Illustrative case study. Details are generic and do not describe an identifiable client.
The situation
A parent died leaving a will that divided the estate unequally between adult children. One child, who had provided years of daily care, brought a family provision application. The relationship between the siblings had already broken down and the estate's main asset was the family home.
What we did
We acted for the executor. The first step was to protect the estate: no distribution until the claim was resolved, and a clear record of the estate's value and liabilities. We prepared the evidence on both the contributions made and the competing needs of each beneficiary, and pushed the matter to an early mediation rather than letting costs build through interlocutory steps.
The lesson
Family provision claims are decided on need and contribution, not on fairness as the family understands it. Getting to mediation early preserves the estate — every month of litigation reduces what there is left to divide.
Every matter turns on its own facts. Past outcomes are not a guarantee of future results.