Mediation of probate, wills and inheritance disputes in London

July 6, 2023
Many different types of dispute can arise out of a deceased's estate.  These can include disputes concerning:

1. Lack of testamentary capacity;
2. Lack of due execution;
3. Undue influence;
4. Construction or interpretation of a Will;
5. A failure to make adequate financial provision (pursued under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; and
6. Disputes during the administration of estates.

Mediation is ideally suited to resolving such probate, wills and inheritance disputes in London.  Family members are very often still mourning.  Court proceedings will frequently cause rifts between parents, children and siblings.  Mediation however enables parties to fully air their grievances whilst trying to preserve family relationships, and can hasten settlement.


 

Probate Mediation in Sheffield

August 23, 2022
Many different types of dispute can arise out of a deceased's estate.  These can include disputes concerning:

1. Lack of testamentary capacity;
2. Lack of due execution;
3. Undue influence;
4. Construction or interpretation of a Will;
5. A failure to make adequate financial provision (pursued under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975); and
6. Disputes during the administration of estates.

Mediation is ideally suited to resolving such probate, wills and inheritance disputes...

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Probate Mediation in Birmingham

August 23, 2022
Many different types of dispute can arise out of a deceased's estate.  These can include disputes concerning:

1. Lack of testamentary capacity;
2. Lack of due execution;
3. Undue influence;
4. Construction or interpretation of a Will;
5. A failure to make adequate financial provision (pursued under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975); and
6. Disputes during the administration of estates.

Mediation is ideally suited to resolving such probate, wills and inheritance disputes...

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The Great Mediation Debate - 25th November 2021

November 25, 2021
Congratulations to Mediator Academy for arranging this evening's online debate in memory of David Richbell.

Debating the motion "This house believes that the benefits of mandatory mediation outweigh the costs" were Justice Michael Peart, Jane Player, Bill Wood QC and Sabine Walsh.  Professor Brian Hutchinson of University College Dublin Sutherland School of Law acted as the chief moderator.

The audience voted....... 53% in favour of the motion, 40% against and 7% abstentions.



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Online Mediations

June 27, 2021
Online mediation is very similar to face to face mediation but the meetings take place over webcams or a computer, tablet or smartphone, rather than in a room.  

I have been offering online mediations since 2016.  These became much more common during 2020 with the national lockdown and people becoming much more familiar with 'Zoom meetings'.

You may choose online mediation if:
  • you do not live near to the person you want to mediator with (perhaps you are even in different countries);
  • you and the o...

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ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition 2021 and online mediations.

January 24, 2021
Between 5th and 11th February 2021, the 16th ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition will gather more than 250 students and coaches, as well as more than 120 professional mediators and mediator trainers from around the world.  Student teams representing 48 universities from 39 countries will compete to resolve international business disputes.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, for the first time the competition will be hosted online.  For the third year running, I will be a competit...
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MIT's Negotiating to Create Value: The Mutual Gains Approach

October 21, 2020
I have recently completed MIT xPRO's 4-week online course in Negotiating to Create Value - The Mutual Gains Approach.  This not only taught theory but enabled us to put this knowledge into practice by role-playing with our peers online.  One of the negotiations was with a mediator and lawyer in Portugal, and another was with corporate executive in the US.

The faculty director is Professor Lawrence Susskind, who is a co-founder of the inter-university Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law Schoo...
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Yale University Negotiation Course

May 6, 2020
With the COVID 19 lockdown in place, I decided to take the opportunity to study Yale University's online course 'Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator', run in conjunction with Coursera.  

The 8-week course is run by Professor Barry Nalebuff of Yale School of Management and uses a series of online lectures/videos, along with live webinars.  In addition, the students are required to participate in a number of live negotiations with...
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ICC Mediation Week 6th-12th February 2020

February 2, 2020
The International Chamber of Commerce Mediation Week commences in Paris on Thursday 6th February 2020.  This will bring together over 500 participants (professional mediators, academics and students) from around the world. 

66 university teams will compete in almost 150 mock mediation sessions throughout the competition.  More than 130 professional mediators and mediation trainers participate every year on a voluntary basis to share their expertise and passion for mediation.  Some will act as ...
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Preparing for a property mediation

July 4, 2019
When I was training as a mediator I observed a mediation involving a property development.  Although both parties had obtained valuation evidence from surveyors, a joint report, setting out where they agreed, disagreed and why they disagreed had not been prepared.  Accordingly, on the day of the mediation, there were perhaps more issues in dispute than there might otherwise have been.  A settlement was not reached.  

I was recently involved in a mediation involving a property where valuation e...
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About Me


Stephen Wood is an ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator, an ADR Group Accredited Workplace Mediator, an ADR Group Accredited Online Mediator and a Consultant Litigation Solicitor. In 2017 Stephen was appointed to the Panel of Chairs of the Valuation Tribunal of England. Stephen has undertaken over 90 paid mediations.