Family feuds over estates reached unprecedented levels in the final quarter of 2024, with 3,061 caveats lodged at the Probate Registry, the highest quarterly total on record.
Data obtained by law firm Taylor Rose under the Freedom of Information Act shows that for the first time, applications to block the granting of probate topped 3,000 in a single quarter, taking the full-year tally to 11,362 in 2024, up 56 per cent from 7,268 in 2019.
The surge has been most pronounced in the second half of last year, with 5,940 caveats entered in Q3 and Q4 combined – 74% higher than the 3,422 applications in the same period of 2019.
This upward trajectory reflects a confluence of demographic and social trends that are likely to sustain high levels of contestation in 2025 and beyond.
AGEING POPULATION
An ageing population and rising mental-capacity concerns are a key driver. Office for National Statistics projections indicate that by 2041, more than a quarter (26%) of the UK population will be aged 65 or over, up from 18% in 2016, while the number of those aged 85 and above is set to double over the same period.
NHS data show that, as of 31 May 2025, some 500,677 patients had a recorded diagnosis of dementia – a 9% increase on two years earlier – fuelling disputes over will validity and capacity to sign.
BABY BOOMERS
Meanwhile, the growing wealth of older generations has raised the stakes. Baby boomers hold the lion’s share of residential property wealth, with homeownership among those aged 65 and over accounting for around two-thirds of the group.
High-value homes have become more commonplace: Rightmove figures reveal that the stock of UK homes priced at £1 million or more has doubled since early 2020, climbing to more than 5 per cent of all properties for sale.
Complex family structures are compounding tensions. Remarriage among the over-60s increased sharply over the past two decades, with ONS data showing a 157% rise in second marriages for men aged 60+ between 2002 and 2022, and a 299% increase for women. Blended families often lead to contested wills as surviving spouses amend or challenge legacy arrangements.
LACK OF VALID WILLS
Finally, the proliferation of DIY wills is adding to the problem. According to the National Wills Report 2024, 23% of will-makers relied on non-professional methods – online templates or DIY kits – often resulting in improperly executed or substantively flawed documents.
The Ministry of Justice reports that intestacy cases rose by 17% to 51,140 in the year to May 2025, a five-year high, as more estates are left with no valid will.
Together, these factors mean that inheritance disputes, as measured by caveat applications, are likely to remain at elevated levels, placing increased pressure on legal services and prompting calls for greater public awareness of the importance of professionally drafted wills.
EMOTIONAL AND STRESSFUL
Wendy Rixon, Joint Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate Disputes Taylor Rose, says: “Fallouts amongst families over inheritance are hugely emotional and stressful, but they are becoming more common.
“Many people have become more dependent on inheritance, particularly those who have found it unaffordable to get onto the property ladder, for example, and whose parents or grandparents have amassed much greater wealth by comparison.
“It is also the case that increasingly complex and diverse family situations, as well as complications brought about by mental capacity issues have contributed to more frequent challenges.”
WILL WARS
Sharon Macaulay, Joint Head of Wills, Trusts and Probate Disputes at Taylor Rose, adds: “The most important thing for people to remember to avoid their family getting into a ‘Will War’ is to ensure that you have a valid Will in place and that consideration has been given to all family members, whether you want to leave them anything or not.
“You should enlist the help of a properly accredited Wills and Probate solicitor from a regulated firm of solicitors to advise you on this and make sure your position is protected, as it can save a lot of heartache – and cost – for your loved ones later on.
“Poorly drafted Wills by will writers who remain unregulated by a professional body have also led to an increase in claims. Mistakes made by such companies are often not covered by professional indemnity insurance and so suing them for professional negligence is pointless as they may have no insurance cover to fund any damages.”
