Number of inheritance disputes ‘stubbornly high’, law firm warns

Inheritance disputes are remaining “stubbornly high”, according to Irwin Mitchell, with new Freedom of Information (FOI) data revealing that High Court cases showed little sign of falling in 2025.

Figures obtained by the law firm showed 126 contested probate cases were heard last year, a tally virtually unchanged from 2024, suggesting dispute levels are plateauing at an elevated level rather than easing.

The figures were provided by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and related to contested probate claims issued in the Chancery Division, supplied on a year by year basis.

Irwin Mitchell said the High Court litigation picture sits alongside continued high volumes of probate caveats, which are often used as an early protective step while concerns are investigated.

Separate FOI data also showed that probate caveat applications, often the first step in challenging an estate, reached 11,328 in 2025, around 55% higher than in 2019.

Irwin Mitchell suggested that a combination of financial pressure, rising property values, increasingly blended family set ups and more awareness of inheritance disputes is pushing concerns to the surface earlier and increasing disputes generally.

“What stands out is that dispute levels are holding firm rather than falling back,” commented partner and head of Irwin Mitchell’s will, trust and estate disputes team, Claire Marie Cornford. “When cases stay this high year-on-year, it suggests inheritance conflict is becoming a more established feature of the probate landscape, rather than a temporary spike.

“Probate caveat applications exceeded 11,000 in 2025 for the second year running, reflecting the fact that more people are taking protective steps and are unwilling to let estate matters progress until they have clarity or the opportunity to raise concerns.

“Rising financial pressure, higher value estates and increasingly complex family arrangements are all contributing to this, bringing potential disputes forward.”

Irwin Mitchell also warned that DIY wills and misinformation could be leaving people believing they have grounds to challenge, or uncertain about where they stand, which can increase the likelihood of conflict at an already difficult time.

“Where wills are homemade, unclear or misunderstood, confidence can quickly fall away and people are more likely to challenge what has been left behind,” Cornford added.

“For some families, we’re seeing that inheritance now feels less like a distant windfall and more like a matter that has a direct and immediate impact on their financial security.”

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