Want to challenge a Will?

Losing someone you love is hard enough. Dealing with inheritance issues should not make it harder. Sometimes people are left out of a Will or do not receive what they were promised, and it can feel deeply unfair.

That is why we have partnered with Inheritance Dispute Resolution, specialists in inheritance and Will disputes. Together, we are here to help you get clear guidance when you need it most.

Use their free Inheritance Claim Checker to see whether you may have grounds to make a claim and receive a personalised report explaining the legal issues around your situation.

Free Claim Checker

1 in 3…

1 in 3 people now rely on an inheritance, which means disputes after someone dies are becoming increasingly common.

If you are unhappy with your share of an inheritance and want to know whether you can challenge the current arrangements, the Inheritance Claim Checker is designed to help. It explains the legal issues behind these disputes and gives you an instant indication of whether action might be possible in your situation.

You will be guided through a short series of questions based on the most common inheritance dispute scenarios. Your answers help identify whether you may have the legal right to make a claim, and you will receive clear, tailored guidance about how strong that claim could be.

The service is completely free and confidential.

Try it now

Free online tool

Only 5 minutes wait

Created by dispute experts

100% confidential

“But I can’t find the Will…”

When someone close to you dies, one of the first practical steps is to confirm whether a valid Will exists.

Start with their paperwork

If you believe a Will was made but cannot find it, begin by checking through their personal belongings and documents.
If they worked with a solicitor or Will writer, look out for letters or paperwork that mention this. Follow up directly with that professional to make sure nothing has been missed.

Check with their bank

Many people store important papers, including Wills, with their bank. In some cases, the bank may also have helped with the Will’s preparation or be named as executor or trustee.


It can also help to review recent bank statements. Regular payments for Will storage or fees to a solicitor or Will writer may point to where the document is held.

Speak with family and friends

It is often worth having an open conversation with relatives or close friends. The person who has died may have mentioned making a Will and where it was stored.

The National Will Register

If the Will still cannot be found, you can carry out a Certainty Will Search through the National Will Register. Different types of searches are available depending on your situation.


Only Wills held by solicitors or registered on the system will appear in these searches, so homemade Wills or those written by independent Will writers may not be included.

Other possible places

Wills can also be stored with HMCTS or at local Probate Registries. Although this is less common, it may be worth checking if other searches are unsuccessful. You might find a lodgement certificate among the person’s paperwork confirming this.

If you think the Will may already have been used to obtain a Grant of Probate, you can search on the GOV.UK website under ‘Search probate records for documents and Wills’.

If a Will has been proved, you can order a copy of the Grant and the Will itself for a small fee.

Still no Will?

If all reasonable steps have been taken and no Will can be located, it is generally presumed that the person died intestate, meaning without a Will. In that case, their estate will be distributed according to the Rules of Intestacy.

If you are unsure what to do next or need to understand your options, you can use our partner tool to check whether a claim might be possible.

Check if you can make a claim

FAQs

  • Once you complete the Claim Checker, you will receive an outcome report. This includes a summary of your legal position, along with an overview of the key strengths and weaknesses in your potential claim.

    We’ve partnered with IDR, specialists in inheritance and Will disputes. After reviewing your report, a member of their team may contact you to offer a free, no-obligation chat about your situation.

  • Yes. The Claim Checker is completely free to use.


    When you finish, you’ll receive your personalised outcome report explaining the main legal issues that may apply to your case.

  • Around one in three people rely on an inheritance to buy a home, pay off debts, or fund their care in later life.

    If you were depending on an inheritance for any of these reasons, you are entitled to question whether the estate has been distributed fairly. Disputing inheritance can feel daunting, especially when emotions and family relationships are involved, but if you believe you are legally entitled to a greater share, you have every right to explore that.

    Challenging inheritance is not about conflict — it is about ensuring fairness and protecting what is rightfully yours.

  • There is no strict cut-off date, but the longer the time since someone’s death, the harder it can become to pursue a claim. Two main issues often arise:

    • Gathering evidence
      Over time, it can become more difficult to collect the documents or witness statements needed to support your case. Key records may have been lost or destroyed, and witnesses may no longer be available.

    • Challenging previously settled estates
      If an estate was administered and settled long ago, and the process was considered correct and carried out in good faith, the courts are often reluctant to reopen or overturn those decisions.

    IDR can review your circumstances and advise you on whether a dispute is still likely to be considered by the courts.