It is unfortunately not possible to prevent someone from contesting a will. However, both at the will preparation stage and in the early stages of being faced with the prospect of a dispute after death, there are various steps that can be taken to protect against it.

Here we answer some common questions about nuptial agreements with a typical scenario.

For many years, child maintenance has been calculated based on the statutory formula set out by the Child Maintenance Service (‘CMS’) (formerly the Child Support Agency (‘CSA’)). This is non-negotiable following a divorce or separation. However, there is a gross income ceiling using the CMS formula of £156,000. So, the question arises as to what the right approach is when a paying parent earns more than that amount.

Martin Oliver, Partner in our Contentious Probate team breaks down the costs of contesting a will and explains the process he follows with clients.

When a person has gone missing and is presumed dead, the Presumption of Death Act 2013 (“the Act”) allows certain eligible people to seek a declaration that the missing person has died so that they can begin the probate process. Among those eligible are those who have 'sufficient interest in the determination of the application' and the recent case of Caroline Fisher has helped to clarify how to define someone who falls into this category.

When the ownership of a business changes, and especially if that business holds a sponsor licence, vigilance is needed. Matthew Davies, Partner and Head of Business Immigration and Stacey Lambert, Associate explain Right to Work checks and sponsor compliance on the sale of a business.

A declaration of trust is a legal document that can be used by tenants in common to establish and clarify their respective interests in a property. In a tenants in common arrangement, multiple individuals own a property together, with each person having a distinct share or percentage of ownership.

For many people, finding love starts with a dating app. More than 10% of UK adults that use the internet participate in online dating. Online dating is big business and brand strategy is a key aspect of obtaining a share of this lucrative market. Given the value of branding, brand protection is a vital component of protecting a business’ investment as well as its reputation and market share. These were all issues in the dispute that recently concluded in the Court of Appeal between a dominant player in the online dating market, Match Group LLC (Match) and Muzmatch, a disruptive innovator.

Rebecca Mushing tells us about how she came to fall in love with the industry, the ways in which women are working together to make the sector less male-dominated, and what advice she would give to young women considering a career in planning.

In our Housebuilders Campaign, we explore the problems and concerns of this sector in conversation with five regional developers. We highlight some of the champions of this industry and discuss the innovative approaches they are taking to alleviate some of the sector’s biggest headaches.