A Partner at Bradford law firm LCF Law has been awarded with membership of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) – something only a handful of legal professionals have achieved in the North of England.
Ragan Montgomery has almost 20 years’ experience specialising in commercial disputes, property, landlord and tenant disputes, as well as wills, trusts and inheritance disputes.
ACTAPS was established in 1997 for lawyers specialising in contentious trust and probate work. To secure the membership, Ragan had to complete two years of study and carry out at least 50% of continuing work within this specialist area for a further two years.
Ragan says: “It’s a privilege to have achieved membership of ACTAPS as it’s such a highly respected organisation which aims to support and constantly develop the field of contentious trust and probate work.”
Managing Partner at LCF Law, Simon Stell, who was recently named as the Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards, says “Ragan’s membership will no doubt give our clients further peace of mind that they are receiving a superior level of legal advice from an industry expert who really does lead the field in this complex area of law.”
Ragan adds: “Although I deal with both commercial and personal disputes, we’re currently handling an increasing number of inheritance disputes and the number reaching the High Court each year is continually rising. This is despite a recent ruling by the Supreme Court making it harder for adult children to challenge parents’ wills if they believe they have not been left a reasonable provision, and this contentious and highly emotive issue is very common. It’s important to bear in mind that disinherited people who can demonstrate particular straitened financial circumstance can still challenge their parents’ wills, so it’s crucial to get the right advice around this specialist area.”
Ragan Montgomery is a partner at LCF Law and is head of the Wills, Trusts and Estates Dispute Department. Contact Ragan on 01274 848800 or visit www.lcf.co.uk
