From Estate Administration to Litigation - Recognising the Tipping Point

Introduction

Estate administration can quickly become derailed by constant back-and-forth with beneficiaries, pulling your focus away from the work that actually needs to be done.

Disputes between executors and beneficiaries, or even among beneficiaries themselves, do not just slow things down. They introduce unnecessary cost, complexity and stress at every stage of the process.

By recognising when these issues are escalating beyond routine administration, you can protect both your time and the estate’s resources, while ensuring all parties are handled appropriately and professionally.

Know when to involve the litigation team. Making that call at the right moment is key to fulfilling your duty to act in the best interests of your client and the estate as a whole.

What You Will Learn

The session will cover the following:

• Early-stage hurdles - locating and establishing contact with all beneficiaries
• Clarifying your role - whether you’re acting as executor or on behalf of one and what that means for your duties
• Handling information requests - what beneficiaries are entitled to receive and when it is appropriate to charge the estate
• Managing difficult beneficiaries - dealing with objections to your decisions, including the use of Part 64 applications
• Beneficiary conflicts - recognising when disputes require parties to seek independent legal advice
• Escalation points - identifying when to involve the litigation team
• Practical strategy - using roundtable meetings, facilitating discussions and knowing when to pause proceedings and address costs

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.