Andrew Willetts TEP

Trusts, Wills and Estates

Andrew undertakes the full range of Probate, Succession and Trust work , in particular:

• Contentious and non-contentious probate;

• Providing advice to executors, trustees and beneficiaries on estate matters and the execution of trusts generally;

• Will trusts;

• Applications under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; and

• Applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958;

• Applications under section 50 of the Administration Act 1985 (to remove or substitute executors) and the Court’s inherent jurisdiction to remove trustees under the principles established in Letterstedt v Broers (1884) 9 App Cas 371;

• Applications for Beddoe and Benjamin orders and all general applications under Part 64 CPR; and

• Applications under section 57 Trustee Act 1925 to authorise transactions in the management of trusts.

Andrew is a member of STEP (the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) and contributor to Westlaw’s UK Insight on the variation of trusts, the doctrine of renvoi and the power of advancement. Andrew has also written for the Trust Quarterly Review, the STEP Journal and the New Law Journal on trust matters.

Andrew advises on all aspects of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Court of Protection which in many ways are strikingly similar to the jurisdiction of the Chancery Division in respect of trusts, trustees and fiduciaries. In that way Andrew can bring to bear his considerable experience as a trust and estate practitioner in specialist Court of Protection work. Andrew can also, in his capacity as a fully accredited civil and commercial mediator, accept instructions to act as an independent mediator in Court of Protection disputes.

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Andrew advises on all aspects of family, co-habitee  or commercial property disputes concerning trusts of land which includes  drafting all relevant applications under CPR Part 7 or Part 8 and  accompanying witness statements. Andrew also advises trustees and beneficiaries of their respective rights and duties under a trust of land including under the Trustee Act 1925 and applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958.

Andrew has extensive knowledge of the equitable doctrine of proprietary estoppel and its overlap with constructive trusts particularly in the context of family and farming inheritance disputes. Andrew can advise on the doctrines likely application in any given case or the respective merits of bringing a claim on this basis. Andrew was Counsel for the Claimant in the High Court case of Seward v Seward [2014] All ER (D) 168 where the doctrine was successfully invoked in the context of an agricultural and inheritance dispute.

As a fully accredited STEP trust and estate practitioner Andrew can advise on all matters relating to the administration and execution of trusts including all applications relating to the sale of trust assets including land. Whether under section 14 TOLATA or applications to the Chancery Division to ‘sanction’ particular transactions under trust law.  Andrew can draft all necessary court documents or trust instruments as required.

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Andrew has a wealth of experience in all aspects of personal injury litigation at fast track and multi track level including cost budgeting and case management hearings.

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