Posted: Tuesday, 27 January 2026 @ 15:20
In the world of inheritance disputes, there is a phrase we often use: "The only winners in a court battle are the lawyers."
A recent High Court ruling involving Anju Patel has brought this reality into sharp, painful focus. After a bitter legal battle over her father’s £600,000 estate, Anju Patel was not only stripped of her inheritance but was left facing a staggering legal bill estimated at £400,000.
At Human Law, we look at cases like this and see a tragedy that could—and should—have been avoided. Here is what every beneficiary and executor can learn from this landmark 2025/2026 case.
As reported in the Independent, Anju Patel’s loss wasn't just about the Will; it was about the cost of litigation. This is exactly why we champion mediation at Human Law.
The Case: A "Cloud of Suspicion"
The dispute centred on the Will of Laxmikant Patel, who died in 2021. He had signed a final Will while gravely ill in the hospital, leaving almost his entire estate—including a £600,000 family home—to his eldest daughter, Anju. His other children were left a nominal £250 each.
Anju’s sister, Bhavenetta, challenged the Will on the grounds of lack of testamentary capacity and undue influence, arguing that their father didn't fully understand the document he was signing in his final days.
The Result: A Total Loss
The High Court judge ruled that the 2021 Will was "highly suspicious." The judge pointed out that:
It did not look like it had been signed by all the participtating parties using the same pen.
It was executed while he was on oxygen in the hospital, isolated from his other children.
There was a lack of clear evidence that he truly intended to cut out his other children so drastically.
The court reinstated an earlier 2019 Will, which divided the estate equally. Because Anju lost the case, she was ordered to pay the legal costs for both sides—leaving her with a bill that wiped out nearly her entire share of the inheritance.
Three Vital Lessons from the Patel Case
1. "Winner Takes All" is a Dangerous Gamble
In the High Court, the general rule is that the loser pays the winner’s costs. If you defend a "suspicious" Will all the way to a final hearing and lose, you aren't just losing the house—you are losing your own savings, too.
2. Don’t Ignore Mediation
At Human Law, our philosophy is Mediation First. If this family had sat down with a skilled mediator early on, they might have reached a compromise that preserved the family relationships and, crucially, preserved the £400,000 that was instead spent on barristers and court fees.
3. The Importance of Price Certainty
One reason costs spiral is the traditional hourly rate. At Human Law, we offer Fixed-Fee Stages. This means our clients always know the "exit ramp."
We provide a clear cost for an initial assessment so you know if your case is "suspicious" before you spend hundreds of thousands of pounds defending it.
How Human Law Can Help
We specialise in helping beneficiaries and executors navigate these high-stakes emotions without the High Court price tag. We use our legal expertise to put pressure on opponents, but our ultimate goal is a resolution that saves the estate from being swallowed by fees.
Are you involved in a dispute over a suspicious Will? Don't wait until the legal bills start mounting. Contact Justin Patten at Human Law for a confidential discussion about our fixed-fee legal and dispute services.