Key Findings of UK Inheritance Dispute Survey: Regional Variations and Insights
As a legal news writer in England and Wales, you have access to exclusive data on inheritance disputes. In a recent survey conducted with 1,000 UK citizens who have dealt with contentious probate and inheritance disputes, some interesting statistics have emerged.
Here are some key findings from the survey:
1. **Number of Will Disputes**: While most regions saw the majority of participants involved in only one Will dispute in the past 10 years, the percentages varied significantly. For example, Yorkshire and the Humber had the highest proportion of residents involved in just one dispute (77%).
2. **Which Family Members are the Focus**: Disputes over fathers’ Wills were the most common in regions like the South East and the West Midlands. However, in London, fathers and wives’ Wills were equally disputed.
3. **Average Inheritance**: The West Midlands, North West, South West, and London had significantly higher average inheritances compared to other regions. Oxford had the highest average inheritance per person.
4. **Claiming Against Non-Family Members**: Colleagues were the most common non-family members initiating inheritance disputes in many regions, including the South East and South West.
5. **Reasons for Dispute**: Reasons for disputes varied widely across regions, with factors like not being happy with inheritance, undue influence, and estate not distributed properly being common reasons.
6. **Legal Fees**: Regions with higher average incomes tended to spend more on legal fees, with London and the South West standing out in this regard.
7. **Amounts Successfully Claimed**: The average value claimed in successful probate cases was £190,793.55. Manchester had the highest percentage of successful claims worth over £1,000,000.
8. **Debt**: Different regions had varying types and values of debts to be settled, with rent arrears being common in the South West and credit card debts in London.
9. **Inheritance Act Claims**: Awareness of the Inheritance Act varied across regions and cities, with London and the North West having the highest awareness.
These findings provide valuable insights into the landscape of inheritance disputes in the UK. If you are involved in an inheritance dispute, seeking legal guidance from experts like IBB Law can help you navigate the complexities of the legal process and find effective solutions. Contact them at 0330 175 7615 or enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk for assistance.