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"Professional bundles for probate and trust litigation"

Wills, Trust & Probate Bundle Software

Create court-ready bundles for contested wills, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, and trust disputes in the Chancery Division. CPR Part 57 compliant formatting. From testamentary capacity challenges to trustee removal applications.

Every stop on the journey produces a real document — template, form or hearing bundle

How do I prepare a contested probate bundle?

A contested probate bundle for the Chancery Division must include the challenged will and previous wills, grant of probate, medical records, Larke v Nugus solicitor file notes, witness statements, expert medical reports on capacity, and all relevant correspondence. Organise into standard Chancery sections with paginated index. Use BundleCreator to automatically format your bundle with correct indexing, cross-references, and bookmark generation.

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CPR Part 57 Compliant
Used by Chancery Practitioners
Automatic Pagination

Your Probate Dispute Journey

Select your case stage

Each stop is a step in the journey. Larger ringed stops are hearings where you build a court bundle; smaller stops are forms, process steps, or court outcomes. Click any stop to see what it involves.

Claimant Route(Claim Side)
Both parties — shared steps(You both do these)
Defendant Route(Defence Side)
After Trial(Post-Trial)
M= Mediation required
= Optional (does not always apply)
= Preparation or submission (no hearing)
iClaimant RouteClaim SideStanding SearchIf neededGrant IssuedCaveatProbate Registry (filing)Will validity / appointment disputeLarke v NugusIf neededWarningIf neededAppearanceIf neededClaim IssuedAoS / Defence1975 Act ClaimChancery Division / Coun…1975 Act provision claimDisclosureExpert EvidenceIf neededDraft OrderSealed OrderSolemn Form Grant⚠ 6 months⚠ 6 months⚠ 14 days⚠ 14 d AoS⚠ 6 months from grantper directionsiBoth parties — shared stepsYou both do theseMMediationCMCChancery Division / Coun…Witness StatementsPTRChancery Division / Coun…Complex or multi-track casesTrialChancery Division / Coun…per directionsper CPR 35typ. 2–4 moiDefendant RouteDefence SideLarke v NugusPre-actionIf neededAppearanceProbate RegistryIf neededN9 AoSChancery Division / Coun…DefenceChancery Division / Coun…BeddoeChancery DivisionIf executor wants prospective costs protection⚠ 14 d Appearance⚠ 14 d AoS⚠ 28 d DefenceiAfter TrialPost-TrialCostsChancery Division / Coun…AppealHigh Court / Court of Ap…If permission to appeal granted
Lines:Claimant RouteBoth parties — shared stepsDefendant RouteAfter Trial
Stops:Bundle hearing — a court bundle is built hereProcess step — no bundle, just a procedural milestoneOptional step — dashed: not always applicable (e.g. only if needed or agreed)Form-filing endpoint — apply on a court form (warrant or enforcement)
Reading:Blog Insight — purple book icons link to a related article (opens in a new tab)
Timing:statutory — miss this and loserequired noticetypical wait
Laws:This journey summarises the procedure under Wills Act 1837 (esp. s.9 execution formalities), Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (esp. s.4 — 6 months from grant), Administration of Estates Act 1925, Administration of Justice Act 1982 (esp. s.20 rectification — 6 months from grant), Trustee Act 2000, Mental Capacity Act 2005 (statutory wills, capacity), Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (esp. r.43 standing search, r.44 caveat, rr.46–48 citation), Civil Procedure Rules Part 57 (contentious probate) + PD 57, Civil Procedure Rules 39.5 / PD 32 para 27 (trial bundle — filed 3 to 7 days before trial) and Limitation Act 1980 s.21 (breach of trust — 12 years; no limit for fraudulent breach). General information only — not legal advice.
© Steleo Publishing Ltd 2026. BundleCreator.co and the tube-map journey design are trade brands of Steleo Publishing Ltd.

This map covers contentious (disputed) probate. The non-contentious route to extract a grant — the PA1P / PA1A application, the probate fee, and the inheritance-tax account (IHT400 / the excepted-estates rules) — is a separate journey; the grant it produces is shown here as the anchor date from which the Inheritance Act 1975 and standing-search clocks run. Contentious probate proceedings typically begin with protective steps unique to this area of law. A caveat is entered at the Probate Registry to prevent a grant of probate being issued (valid for 6 months and renewable). The party seeking the grant may issue a warning requiring the caveator to enter an appearance or allow the caveat to cease. Once an appearance is entered, the dispute cannot be resolved without a court order or consent of all parties. There are four main types of contentious probate claim: (1) will validity challenges on grounds of lack of testamentary capacity (Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549, confirmed as the test in Hughes v Pritchard [2022] EWCA Civ 386 — the Mental Capacity Act 2005 capacity test does NOT replace Banks v Goodfellow for testamentary capacity), undue influence, lack of knowledge and approval, or failure to comply with s.9 Wills Act 1837; (2) Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims for reasonable financial provision (must be issued within 6 months of the grant); (3) rectification under s.20 Administration of Justice Act 1982 where the will fails to carry out the testator's intentions; and (4) proprietary estoppel claims based on assurances made by the deceased. After proceedings are issued in the Chancery Division or County Court under CPR Part 57, a Larke v Nugus request is commonly made to the will-drafting solicitor for a detailed account of the will's preparation and execution — this is essential in will validity challenges. Between the CMC and trial, parties complete disclosure of relevant documents (medical records, solicitor attendance notes, financial records, and correspondence with the deceased) and exchange any expert evidence as directed — including handwriting experts, medical experts on testamentary capacity, or forensic accountants for 1975 Act claims. Mediation is strongly encouraged throughout and many probate disputes settle before trial, given the family dynamics involved. Costs sanctions may follow an unreasonable refusal to mediate.

Important: This journey map shows the typical stages of the relevant court or tribunal proceedings. It is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, consult a solicitor or instruct a barrister directly.

The law, court fees and time limits can change. We work hard to keep this map accurate, but it may contain errors or become out of date, so please check anything important against the official source — for example legislation.gov.uk or GOV.UK. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Steleo Publishing Limited does not accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this map. Each stop represents a stage where a separate bundle may be required; BundleCreator handles the formatting — it does not replace professional legal advice.

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Last reviewed: | Stevie Hayes, Legal Technology Compliance Specialist

UK contentious probate key facts, 2026

Primary UK references on Inheritance Act claims, will validity, and probate procedure.

StatValueSource
Inheritance Act 1975 — time limit6 months from grant of probateSection 4, Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Procedure — contentious probateCPR Part 57 + Chancery GuideCivil Procedure Rules Part 57
Probate caveatPrevents grant for 6 months; cost £3 / online via GOV.UKNon-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 r.44
Will validity groundsCapacity, due execution, knowledge and approval, undue influence, fraudWills Act 1837 / Banks v Goodfellow (1870)
Executor removalSection 50, Administration of Justice Act 1985 (substitution)Administration of Justice Act 1985 s.50
Probate fee — estate over £5,000£300 (2026)GOV.UK probate fees
Inheritance Tax threshold (nil-rate band)£325,000 / £500,000 with residence nil-rate bandInheritance Tax Act 1984 / GOV.UK
72%

Settlement Rate

of Inheritance Act 1975 claims settle before trial

Source: Ministry of Justice, Chancery Division Annual Statistics 2024-25

Hours → minutes

Faster preparation

Automated pagination, indexing and export are designed to turn probate-dispute bundle preparation from hours into minutes.

Hearing-ready

Contested-will bundles

Beneficial-interest schedules, Inheritance Act 1975 chronologies and estate-account exhibits, structured for the hearing.

Quick Answer

For a contested probate hearing in the Chancery Division, you need the challenged will and any previous wills, the grant of representation, death certificate, comprehensive medical records from GP, hospital, and care home, the Larke v Nugus response from the drafting solicitor, attesting witness statements, factual witness statements from family and carers, expert medical reports addressing Banks v Goodfellow capacity, and chronological correspondence. For Inheritance Act 1975 claims, you also need full financial disclosure for the applicant and beneficiaries, estate accounts, and evidence addressing all section 3 factors. BundleCreator is online court bundle software that organises everything into CPR Part 57 compliant format with automatic indexing and pagination.

Wills and Probate Court Bundle UK: In Brief

A contentious probate bundle is filed at the High Court (Chancery Division — Business and Property Courts) for will validity challenges, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, trust disputes, and estate administration disputes. The County Court holds a residual jurisdiction for estates under £30,000 under the County Courts Act 1984 s.32, but contentious probate routinely goes to the High Court. Proceedings run under CPR Part 57 (probate) and the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 for grant-related matters.

Key rules
CPR Part 57 and PD 57 (contentious probate), Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987 (SI 1987/2024), Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Key forms
PA1P (Probate Application — Personal applicant), PA1A (Solicitor applicant), PA8A (Caveat), N1 (contentious probate claim form under CPR Part 57)
Time limits
Inheritance Act claim: 6 months from grant of representation (1975 Act s.4); claims to recover trust property: 6 years under Limitation Act 1980 s.21
Jurisdiction
High Court (Chancery Division — Business and Property Courts) for contentious probate; HMCTS Probate Service for non-contentious grants
Bundle size
Probate bundles include the will, codicils, grant, medical records (capacity claims), and trustee correspondence; up to 1,000 pages supported

Official guidance: CPR Part 57 — Probate — justice.gov.uk

Built for Probate and Trust Practitioners

Every feature designed for Chancery Division and probate proceedings

CPR Part 57 Compliant

Bundle structure follows Practice Direction 57A requirements for contentious probate proceedings in the Chancery Division.

Medical Evidence Sections

Dedicated sections for GP records, hospital notes, care home records, and expert capacity assessments. Paginated for Banks v Goodfellow analysis.

Will Comparison Layout

Side-by-side organisation of the challenged will, previous wills, codicils, and letters of wishes for clear chronological comparison.

Section 3 Factor Templates

Structured sections addressing all Inheritance Act 1975 section 3 factors: financial resources, needs, obligations, estate size, and disability.

Limitation Deadline Tracking

Automatic reminders for the six-month Inheritance Act deadline from grant of representation and the six-month rectification window.

Larke v Nugus Integration

Dedicated bundle tab for solicitor file notes, attendance records, and Larke v Nugus responses with cross-referencing to capacity evidence.

Understanding Probate and Trust Bundles

Everything you need to know about preparing bundles for contested wills, Inheritance Act claims, and trust disputes

Contentious Probate Claims

Contentious probate proceedings are issued in the Business and Property Courts (Property, Trusts and Probate List) of the Chancery Division. Claims may challenge the validity of a will on grounds of want of testamentary capacity (Banks v Goodfellow (1870)), want of knowledge and approval, undue influence, fraud, forgery, or want of due execution under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837.

A Larke v Nugus request enables challengers to obtain the will file and attendance notes from the drafting solicitor. Caveats can be entered at the Probate Registry to prevent a grant being issued while the dispute is resolved. Probate claims are governed by CPR Part 57 and Practice Direction 57A.

Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975

The 1975 Act allows eligible applicants to claim that a will or intestacy does not make reasonable financial provision for them. Claims must be issued within six months of the grant of representation, though the court has discretion to extend time under section 4.

  • Section 1(1)(a): Surviving spouse or civil partner
  • Section 1(1)(b): Former spouse (not remarried)
  • Section 1(1)(ba): Cohabitant of two or more years
  • Section 1(1)(c): Child of the deceased
  • Section 1(1)(d): Person treated as child of family
  • Section 1(1)(e): Person maintained by the deceased

Trust Disputes and Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Trust disputes encompass breach of trust claims, trustee removal applications under section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925, applications for directions under CPR Part 64, and variation of trusts under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958. Claims involving breach of fiduciary duty have no limitation period where the trustee has acted fraudulently (section 21 of the Limitation Act 1980).

Remedies include equitable compensation, account of profits, tracing, removal and replacement of trustees, and court-directed administration. Proprietary claims may be pursued where trust assets can be identified.

Court Routes and Procedure

Contentious probate claims are issued under CPR Part 7 or Part 8 in the Chancery Division. Inheritance Act claims use the Part 8 procedure. The court may order mediation under CPR Part 3, and many probate disputes settle at a round-table meeting or mediation before trial.

  • Chancery Division: High-value and complex probate claims
  • County Court: Lower-value claims and uncontested matters
  • Court of Protection: Statutory wills for incapacitated persons
  • Probate Registry: Caveat and standing search procedures
  • CPR Part 57: Probate-specific procedural rules
  • CPR Part 64: Trust and estate administration applications

Claim-Specific Templates

Choose the template that matches your probate, inheritance, or trust claim

Contested Will (Capacity)

Challenge testamentary capacity under Banks v Goodfellow. Medical records, expert reports, and Larke v Nugus sections.

Inheritance Act 1975 Claim

Part 8 claim for reasonable financial provision. Section 3 factors, financial disclosure, and estate valuation.

Will Rectification (s.20 AJA 1982)

Application to rectify a will for clerical error or failure to carry out instructions. Six-month deadline from grant.

Undue Influence Challenge

Will challenge on coercion grounds. Relationship evidence, vulnerability factors, and opportunity analysis.

Trust Dispute (Breach of Trust)

Breach of fiduciary duty claims. Trust accounts, distribution records, and trustee correspondence.

Trustee Removal Application

Application under s.36 Trustee Act 1925 or court's inherent jurisdiction. Misconduct evidence and replacement proposals.

Manual Bundling vs BundleCreator for Probate

See how automated formatting compares to preparing your contested probate bundle by hand

FeatureManual BundlingBundleCreator
PD27A format checks
Automatic pagination
Index generation
PDF compression
Secure document storage
Template guidance
Error reduction
CPR Part 57 compliance formatting
Automatic consecutive pagination
Chronological will document ordering
Medical evidence indexing
Section 3 factors checklist
Time to prepare probate bundle
6-10 hours
45-90 mins
Court filing format compliance
Multi-party service copies

Chancery Division courts hearing probate disputes

Contentious probate and Inheritance Act 1975 claims heard in the Chancery Division and Business and Property Courts of England and Wales.

Wills, Trust & Probate Bundle FAQs

Common questions about probate bundles, Inheritance Act claims, and trust dispute proceedings

BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template handles contested probate, will validity challenges, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, and trust disputes. The bundle contains: pleadings, the will and any earlier wills, evidence of testamentary capacity (Banks v Goodfellow analysis), witness statements (attesting witnesses, family members, treating clinicians), expert reports on capacity and undue influence, and authorities. Paginated continuously, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked for the Chancery Division.

Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims need: the claim form and particulars (or amended particulars where the matter is contested), the will and grant of probate, evidence of the applicant's eligibility (spouse, civil partner, child, dependant), evidence of reasonable financial provision (or its absence), the executor's response, witness statements on the deceased's intentions and the applicant's circumstances, and authorities. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders these for the Chancery Division with pagination, OCR, and section bookmarks.

Larke v Nugus statements (the will-drafting solicitor's account of taking instructions and witnessing the will) are key evidence in contentious probate. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template includes a dedicated section for the Larke v Nugus statement, attendance notes, the will draft history, the executed will, and the will-drafting solicitor's file (released in line with the Law Society's Larke v Nugus practice guidance). Paginated and bookmarked alongside the witness statements of attesting witnesses.

Testamentary capacity challenges apply the Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 test: the testator understands the nature of the act, the extent of the property, and the moral claims on them, and is not subject to a delusion influencing the disposition. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders capacity evidence: GP and consultant medical records, the Larke v Nugus statement, witness statements (family, friends, treating clinicians), expert psychiatric or geriatric medicine reports, and authorities. Paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked for the Chancery Division.

1975 Act dependency claims (where the applicant is not a spouse, civil partner, or child but was being maintained by the deceased) need: evidence of the maintenance pre-death (financial transfers, joint expenses, household contributions), evidence of the cohabitation or other dependency relationship, the deceased's testamentary disposition and any statement of reasons, the applicant's circumstances and needs, and the position of any other beneficiaries. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders these for the Chancery Division.

BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template handles executor dispute applications under sections 50 and 116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (removal and replacement of personal representatives) on tight deadlines. Upload the grant of probate, the will, the disputed conduct evidence (delays, breaches of duty, conflicts of interest), witness statements, and authorities. The bundle is paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked — typically produced in 30-60 minutes from upload, ready for the Chancery Division.

Trust disputes (Re Beddoe applications, breach of trust claims, removal of trustees, trust accounts disputes) need: the trust deed and any later amendments, the disputed accounts, supporting bank statements and asset valuations, witness statements (beneficiary and trustee), expert evidence on professional standards if alleged, and authorities. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders these for the Chancery Division with pagination, OCR, and section bookmarks aligned with the trust accounts under challenge.

BundleCreator runs on Google Cloud's London region (europe-west2) — primary storage, backups, and processing all in the UK. AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Estate inventories, will drafts, beneficiary information, and trust accounts stay within UK borders, removing UK GDPR Article 44 transfer concerns and aligning with the solicitors' professional duty of confidentiality.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best bundle tool for contested probate or a will validity dispute?

BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template handles contested probate, will validity challenges, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, and trust disputes. The bundle contains: pleadings, the will and any earlier wills, evidence of testamentary capacity (Banks v Goodfellow analysis), witness statements (attesting witnesses, family members, treating clinicians), expert reports on capacity and undue influence, and authorities. Paginated continuously, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked for the Chancery Division.

How do I prepare an Inheritance Act 1975 claim bundle for the Chancery Division?

Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claims need: the claim form and particulars (or amended particulars where the matter is contested), the will and grant of probate, evidence of the applicant's eligibility (spouse, civil partner, child, dependant), evidence of reasonable financial provision (or its absence), the executor's response, witness statements on the deceased's intentions and the applicant's circumstances, and authorities. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders these for the Chancery Division with pagination, OCR, and section bookmarks.

How do I prepare a Larke v Nugus statement bundle for contentious probate?

Larke v Nugus statements (the will-drafting solicitor's account of taking instructions and witnessing the will) are key evidence in contentious probate. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template includes a dedicated section for the Larke v Nugus statement, attendance notes, the will draft history, the executed will, and the will-drafting solicitor's file (released in line with the Law Society's Larke v Nugus practice guidance). Paginated and bookmarked alongside the witness statements of attesting witnesses.

How do I prepare a capacity evidence bundle — Banks v Goodfellow testamentary capacity?

Testamentary capacity challenges apply the Banks v Goodfellow (1870) LR 5 QB 549 test: the testator understands the nature of the act, the extent of the property, and the moral claims on them, and is not subject to a delusion influencing the disposition. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders capacity evidence: GP and consultant medical records, the Larke v Nugus statement, witness statements (family, friends, treating clinicians), expert psychiatric or geriatric medicine reports, and authorities. Paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked for the Chancery Division.

How do I prepare a 1975 Act dependency claim bundle?

1975 Act dependency claims (where the applicant is not a spouse, civil partner, or child but was being maintained by the deceased) need: evidence of the maintenance pre-death (financial transfers, joint expenses, household contributions), evidence of the cohabitation or other dependency relationship, the deceased's testamentary disposition and any statement of reasons, the applicant's circumstances and needs, and the position of any other beneficiaries. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders these for the Chancery Division.

How do I bundle an executor disputes claim — beneficiary deadline tomorrow?

BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template handles executor dispute applications under sections 50 and 116 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (removal and replacement of personal representatives) on tight deadlines. Upload the grant of probate, the will, the disputed conduct evidence (delays, breaches of duty, conflicts of interest), witness statements, and authorities. The bundle is paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index, and bookmarked — typically produced in 30-60 minutes from upload, ready for the Chancery Division.

How do I prepare a trustee dispute bundle — beneficiary challenging trust accounts?

Trust disputes (Re Beddoe applications, breach of trust claims, removal of trustees, trust accounts disputes) need: the trust deed and any later amendments, the disputed accounts, supporting bank statements and asset valuations, witness statements (beneficiary and trustee), expert evidence on professional standards if alleged, and authorities. BundleCreator's Wills, Trust & Probate template orders these for the Chancery Division with pagination, OCR, and section bookmarks aligned with the trust accounts under challenge.

Is there a UK-hosted probate bundling tool — client estate value private?

BundleCreator runs on Google Cloud's London region (europe-west2) — primary storage, backups, and processing all in the UK. AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Estate inventories, will drafts, beneficiary information, and trust accounts stay within UK borders, removing UK GDPR Article 44 transfer concerns and aligning with the solicitors' professional duty of confidentiality.

Built by Stevie Hayes, a Governance, Risk and Compliance specialist who spent five years in the UK Family Court system. Published October 2025 · Last updated 26 April 2026.

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