Advice Centre

At IMD Solicitors, we are committed to ensuring our clients receive fair treatment under the law, particularly in cases involving vulnerable beneficiaries. Recently, we successfully acted for a client in a matter involving a minor beneficiary entitled to a share of their deceased parent’s estate. 

The Challenge 

In England and Wales, if a person dies without a Will, the intestacy rules apply. Under these rules, if the deceased is not married and has children, their estate is divided equally among their children. 

In this case, our client was the legal guardian of a minor who was entitled to a share of their late parent’s estate. However, difficulties arose when the administrators of the estate, failed to provide transparency regarding the estate accounts and sought to manage the distribution without adhering to the intestacy rules. 

Our Approach 

We were instructed to protect the minor beneficiary’s rights and ensure their inheritance was properly distributed. To achieve this, we took the following steps: 

1. Requesting Full Estate Accounts: We formally requested a comprehensive inventory of the estate’s assets and liabilities from the administrators. 

2. Emphasising Fiduciary Responsibilities: We reminded the administrators of their legal obligations under the Administration of Estates Act 1925, including their duty to distribute the estate in accordance with the law. 

3. Escalating the Matter: We highlighted the potential legal consequences of failing to comply with their responsibilities as administrators, ensuring they understood the seriousness of the situation. 

The Outcome

Thanks to our intervention, the administrators provided the requested estate accounts and agreed to distribute the estate in line with the intestacy rules. This ensured that the minor beneficiary received their rightful share.

Conclusion

This case highlights the importance of expert legal advice in estate administration disputes, particularly when dealing with intestacy and protecting the rights of vulnerable beneficiaries.

At IMD Solicitors, our Private Client team is dedicated to ensuring that the law is upheld and that our clients’ rights are protected. If you require assistance with estate administration, intestacy matters, or safeguarding the interests of beneficiaries, contact Rezwana Dithy and the team today for expert legal advice.

To find out more about our services, visit International Family Law section of our website.

Call us now to discuss your case 0330 107 0107 or email us at info@imd.co.uk.