Rising house prices are among the causes of a 12% increase in inheritance disputes last year, according to TWM Solicitors.
There were more than 11,500 applications to halt the administration of estates filed last year, a 12% increase on 2024, according to Surrey-based TWM.
Data obtained by TWM from the Ministry of Justice shows that applications for probate caveats – which temporarily prevent a grant of probate form being issued – rose from 10,313 to 11,589 over the course of last year.
A probate caveat allows an individual to block the administration of an estate for six months while concerns about a will or the handling of an estate are investigated.
TWM Solicitors will, trust and estate disputes team partner Stuart Downey said that rising property prices and more complex family dynamics are increasing the likelihood of disagreements over inheritances.
He added: “In many parts of the UK even relatively modest estates can now be worth £500,000 to £1 million simply because they include a family home.
“As the value of estates rises, so too does the potential for disputes between family members.
“Increasingly, people factor expected inheritances into their long-term financial planning. When the reality falls short of expectations, it can quickly lead to disagreements and legal challenges.”
Downey says the rise in blended families – often involving stepchildren, half-siblings and second marriages – is also contributing to a greater number of disputes.
“It is becoming more common to see children from different relationships taking action against each other when they feel they have been treated unfairly or overlooked in a will,” he explained.
It costs just £3 to apply for a probate caveat, so there is relatively little barrier to individuals wanting to block the distribution of an estate.
People also apply for probate caveats when they have concerns about either the validity of a will or the suitability of an individual to be executor of an estate.
“Challenges frequently arise where there are concerns about whether someone had the mental capacity to make or change their Will, particularly where dementia or other cognitive conditions are involved,” Downey added.
“Families are also increasingly alert to the possibility that vulnerable individuals may have been pressured into altering their wishes.”
