Georgia Stott
Senior Associate - Contentious Probate
"I am a contentious trusts and probate lawyer experienced in dealing with claims concerning challenges to the validity of a will, inheritance disputes, disputes within estates and trusts, and proprietary estoppel claims.”
I am a Senior Associate in the contentious trusts and probate team, having joined Higgs in 2015.
I have been advising on all contentious aspects of probate, estate administration and trusts for over six years. Typically, I assist clients contemplating contesting a will or facing challenges to wills; disputes between executors/trustees; disputes between executors/trustees and beneficiaries; claims in proprietary estoppel and claims for financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
I assist with situations involving the invalidity of wills or trust documents as well as errors within the administration of estates or trusts. I am able to advise upon the rectification of errors and deal with professional negligence claims.
I act for beneficiaries, executors, and trustees (both lay and professional) and people with prospective claims within an estate or trust. My particular expertise involves dealing with complex or high-value estates and trusts, and claims for provision from an estate. However, the team at Higgs is able to guide parties through the contentious elements of all trusts and estates.
- Acted for sisters who were unable to progress the administration of an estate as their co-executor was failing to engage with them. We obtained the court order requested, and recovered 97.5% of their costs (usually a successful party cannot expect to recover more than 70%).
- Acted for a client claiming reasonable provision from her husband’s estate. We were able to agree with the other beneficiaries that she was entitled to the income from the estate for the remainder of her life, and that capital could be advanced to her, despite her claim being 5 years out of time.
- Acted for two executors of an estate defending a challenge to the validity of the will of their late mother. The matter settled at mediation, with the other party conceding significantly more than our clients, who walked away with the majority of the estate, as per the terms of the will.
- Acted for the executors of an estate defending a threatened claim in proprietary estoppel by the daughter of the deceased. Our clients were able to persuade her to withdraw her claim, which was for the deceased’s property (her main asset), without the need to involve the court.
More about me
Interesting fact
I drove across Botswana and Namibia in a 4x4 with only a tent on the roof for accommodation.
Favourite place
Southwold beach, Suffolk
Favourite food
Chocolate
Favourite book
The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom
Latest insights from Georgia Stott
Meet the team
Craig Ridge
Partner and Head of Contentious Probate
Sasha Lloyd
Trainee Solicitor - Contentious Probate
Joseph Martin
Associate - Contentious Probate