Katie Whitehead

Senior Associate

Edgerton

01484 821 572

katie.whitehead@ramsdens.co.uk

 

 

Katie is a Solicitor and Senior Associate specialising in our Will, Trust & Estate Disputes team. 

Katie joined Ramsdens in 2007 and qualified as a solicitor in the firm’s Dispute Resolution team in 2012. She has over 12 years Dispute Resolution experience.

Katie has dealt exclusively with all types of private client and inheritance disputes for a number of years. This includes contesting Wills, Trustee and Executor disputes, property and land disputes. She has successfully represented numerous clients in bringing and defending claims for financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 including claims brought by surviving spouses/cohabitees/children or others who have been maintained by the deceased .

Katie also deals with Trustee disputes in relation to land and claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA). 

Prior to specialising in Will, Trust & Estate dispute work, Katie specialised in property litigation. Katie’s knowledge of property litigation is invaluable in dealing with contentious private client work as there is often a cross-over. This broadens her professional scope and knowledge in a complex and niche area. Katie appreciates that clients are often grieving and in a difficult situation and she is compassionate and understanding to clients’ needs. 

Working alongside our Court of Protection team, Katie also advises and represents clients in Court of Protection issues where disputes arise in relation to a vulnerable person’s assets and affairs.

Katie also is a full Member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) and of the Property Litigation Association.

She also provides pro-bono support to local universities who deal with members of the public assisting in their legal clinics.

 

Katie specialises in:

• Will validity disputes
• Inheritance Act claims
• Executor disputes
• Trust disputes
• Proprietary Estoppel claims
• Constructive Trusts
• TOLATA claim
• Court of Protection disputes
• Mediation
• Presumption of Death applications

 

What are your career highlights so far?

" I acted for a Claimant in a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. The claimant was the long term cohabitee of the Deceased who died intestate. The claim was disputed by Deceased’s adult children. The claim proceeded to trial and the client was awarded a significant percentage of the Deceased’s estate."

and

"I acted for a Claimant who was a beneficiary under a family member’s Will. A claim was brought against the Executor for failing to account to the client. The claim was successful at trial and the Claimant obtained a Vesting Order transferring the Deceased’s property to him."
 

What is one legal myth that you’d love to dispel?

"Those in long term relationships have the same rights as married couples. If a married person dies without a Will, their widow will inherit some (or all of their estate depending on its value) under the Rules of Intestacy. If an unmarried person dies leaving a partner, regardless of how long they have been in a relationship, that partner does not inherit anything under the Rules of Intestacy. This can often lead to disputes which we see all too often."

 

What made you want to work in your sector?

"I have always had an interest in law and after studying law at A Level, I knew I wanted to work in the legal sector. Contentious Probate is a specialist area within civil litigation and I enjoy not only the law but dealing with clients and helping them. Clients are often grieving when they approach us and disputes with family members and others over a loved one’s estate can be extremely difficult to deal with. I try and take some of that burden away from clients and help them try and come to some resolution."

 

Visit our Will, Trust & Estate Disputes section for more information on our services, or alternatively, call our team on 01484 821 500.