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Spouses and civil partners
A surviving spouse or civil partner, and some former spouses or civil partners, may qualify under the Act.
Inheritance Act enquiries · England & Wales
Concerned you were left without reasonable provision from an estate?
If you believe a will or the intestacy rules have not made reasonable financial provision for you, tell us about your circumstances. Where appropriate, we may introduce you to an independent solicitor.
- Free initial enquiry
- No obligation to instruct
- England & Wales
- Confidential enquiry process
Please note: Is This a Claim is not a firm of solicitors and does not provide legal advice. We operate an enquiry and referral service. Any legal advice or representation is provided by an independent solicitor you choose to instruct.
1
Explain your circumstancesTell us about your relationship to the deceased.
2
Initial enquiry reviewWe consider the information you provide.
3
Possible referralAn independent solicitor may contact you.
Inheritance Act 1975
Who may be able to apply?
The Act provides a possible route to seek reasonable financial provision from an estate for certain categories of people. Eligibility alone does not guarantee an award.
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Children and family
Children and certain people treated as children of the deceased’s family may be eligible to apply.
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Partners and dependants
Qualifying cohabitants and people financially maintained by the deceased may be able to seek provision, subject to specific legal tests.
What happens next
A straightforward initial enquiry
We collect the basic information needed to understand whether a referral may be appropriate.
1
Complete the form
Tell us about your relationship to the deceased, the estate and any grant of probate.
2
We review the enquiry
We consider whether an introduction to an independent panel solicitor may be suitable.
3
Solicitor contact
Where appropriate and with your agreement, a solicitor may contact you to assess the case and applicable deadline.
The time limit can be short
The usual time limit is six months from the first grant of representation. The court can give permission for a later application, but permission is not automatic. Seek legal advice promptly if a grant has been issued.
- The deceased’s date of death
- Whether probate or letters of administration have been granted
- The date of the first grant, if known
- Your relationship to the deceased and any provision received
Questions people ask
Inheritance Act enquiries
Does being left out of a will mean I have a claim?
Not necessarily. You must fall within an eligible category and the court must be satisfied that reasonable financial provision has not been made in the circumstances.
Can I apply if there is no will?
Potentially, yes. The Act can apply where an estate passes under the intestacy rules. Eligibility and reasonable financial provision still need to be considered.
What if six months have passed since probate?
It may be possible to ask the court for permission to apply late, but this is discretionary. Seek legal advice urgently; submitting this enquiry does not protect your position.
Is this the same as challenging the validity of a will?
No. An Inheritance Act claim is about reasonable financial provision from the estate. A challenge to the validity of a will is a separate type of dispute.
Official information: HMRC guidance on eligible applicants and time limits · Search probate records
Tell us about your inheritance concern
Start a free initial enquiry. We may introduce you to a suitable independent solicitor.