Steven Murgatroyd

Senior Associate

Edgerton

01484 504 936

steven.murgatroyd@ramsdens.co.uk

 

 

Steven is a well rounded solicitor who is well versed in Dispute Resolution and both contentious and non-contentious Private Wealth and Succession matters.

He has a technical legal background when dealing with Deputyships, Powers of Attorney, Wills and Probate which is coupled with years of experience dealing with complex family disputes.

This means that Steven is well positioned to act for clients when a dispute arises, whether after the death of a family member (Inheritance Disputes) or during lifetime (Court of Protection disputes) when a vulnerable adult (or child) is represented by either a deputy or attorney.  

 

Steven specialises in:

• Will, Trust & Estate disputes
• Contentious Court of Protection

 

What are your career highlights so far?

Will, Trust & Estate Disputes:

• Successfully defended an Inheritance Act claim against an elderly client made by an estranged (and difficult) step-child. 
• Brought action against executors whose relationship with beneficiaries had broken down completely.  An inventory application was made that then opened dialogue between the parties who then reached agreement without the need for court proceedings.
• Issued possession claims against disgruntled beneficiaries who were living in their deceased parents property and refused to sell. 
• Acted for numerous beneficiaries of wills who have had difficulty realising their share of the estate.
• Defended and made claims for family members who have not been included in the will of their deceased family members.
• Handled claims against solicitors who have either drafted wills badly or failed to act on instruction before their client died.

 

Court of Protection Disputes:

• Represented families in professional negligence claims against deputies who have mismanaged the donor’s assets. 
• Supported (and successfully defended) Office of the Public Guardian’s investigations into attorney’s and deputies handling of the Donor’s financial affairs. 
• Acted for a family where the donor was being financially abused by the care home where she lived.
• Resolved financial disputes between family members where the donor has lost capacity and agreement cannot be reached amicably.
• Handled financial abuse claims between family members where one party has used bank cards for their own gain.
• Defended lifetime gift claims between siblings whilst the donor is still alive and also after their death.

 

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

"The terms “next of kin” and “common law wife” cause many problems with inheritance disputes. Rather than relying on such terms, the testator has to make sure their will has specific intentions and is up to date."

 

What made you want to work in your sector?

"I was the first in my family to go to university. My father was a frustrated barrister who sold double glazing! Both he and my mother were very supportive in this career choice. I am lucky that I have had exposure to many areas of law in my early career and now enjoy helping resolve family arguments be it either after death or when someone has lost capacity."

 

Visit our Will, Trust and Estate Disputes page, or our Court of Protection Disputes section for more information on our services. You can also call our team on 01484 821 500.