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Ashley Blood-Halvorsen

Year of Call: 2017
Email Address: [email protected]
Telephone: 0121 289 4333

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Clerks Details

  • Clerk Name: Matthew Scanlan
  • Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Probate and Estates

Ashley Blood-Halvorsen TEP is a specialist in Private client, Wills, Trusts and Probate with a well-established and growing practice focused on contentious probate and estates disputes. She is regularly instructed by both leading and boutique firms to advise and appear in matters concerning the administration of estates, will validity and construction, and trust-related disputes.

Ashley is known for her rigorous approach and strong advocacy, with clients and instructing solicitors commenting that their “case was safe in her hands” and praising her as “just as passionate in securing the best possible outcome”

Ashley has experience acting in cases involving all sizes, including those with international elements. Her work encompasses all issues relating to the validity of wills and testamentary dispositions, including compliance with formal requirements, testamentary capacity, knowledge and approval, undue influence, and fraud. She also regularly advises on the interpretation and construction of wills, trusts, and related instruments.

Ashley is a full member of STEP and achieved a merit in the Taxation of Trusts and Estates examination.

Prior to qualifying as a barrister, Ashley worked in beneficiary tracing, providing her with a strong practical understanding of estate administration and entitlement issues.

Wills & Probate

Ashley practices in contentious probate, undertaking both litigation and advisory work in relation to disputes concerning estates. Her experience includes matters regarding wills, and constructive trust claims relating to property disposed of under wills, mutual wills, and issues arising in the administration of estates.

She regularly acts for executors, beneficiaries, and other interested parties in contested will and probate disputes, advising on the validity of wills and issues of succession and estate administration. Ashley is frequently instructed from providing the initial advice and pre-action strategy through to mediation and contested hearings

  • Advising on the concerned the construction of a handwritten will and distribution of shares
  • Advising on challenge to the validity of mirror wills
  • Advising the personal representatives regarding a legacy which had left £250k intended for the case of deceased’s horse but there was a risk of ademption
  • Advising on complex cross-border probate dispute following death of a testator
  • Challenging a will executed shortly before death on failures in relation to the Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837
  • Advising on contentious probate concerning whether a will had been revoked before death
  • Advising on the production of the will through a subpoena under section 123 of the Senior Courts Act 1981
  • Drafting citations and other actions under the Non-Contentious Probate Rules 1987
  • High Court Probate dispute for management of a substantial estate comprising multiple properties
  • Succeeding in a claim for pronouncement in solemn form of two homemade wills one of which did not have a revocation clause and a declaration by the court of the residuary beneficiary
  • Defending probate dispute on allegations of probate undue influence, equitable undue influence, financial abuse and substantial lifetime transfers
  • Advised the successful claimants and drafted the particulars of claim for Ginger v Mickleburgh [2026] EWHC 100 (Ch) which concerned a lack of testamentary capacity by reason of insane delusions and a claim of fraudulent calumny.

Trusts

  • Advising on whether the court should remove and replace trustees under section 41 of the Trustee Act 1925
  • Drafting particulars of claim in breach of trust proceedings
  • Advising on and appearing in applications for the removal of executors and trustees
  • Obtaining freezing injunctions over proceeds of sale of trust property
  • Advising on the validity and tax consequences of a lifetime interest trust settled over a residential property
  • Bringing a High Court breach of trust and devastavit claim against an executor who had failed to distribute the residue of an estate.
  • Advising on intestacy and trust dispute concerning whether substantial sums held in joint building society accounts passed by survivorship
  • Phippen -v- Pereira - Acted for the defendant in a complex TOLATA claim concerning alleged beneficial ownership of a London property purchased in 1961where a sibling alleged it was held on trust for eight family members
  • High Court trust and probate dispute concerning assurances to stepchildren following a deed of variation, advancing claims in contract, proprietary estoppel, unjust enrichment and constructive trust
  • Brought High Court breach of trust and devastavit claim against an executor who failed to distribute the estate in accordance with the will

Family Provisions - Inheritance Act 1975

  • Advising executors on potential Inheritance Act claims, historic devastavit, and limitation issues
  • Acting for claimants in Inheritance Act claims brought by adult children, dependants, cohabitees, and spouses to polygamous marriages entered outside England and Wales
  • Hulya Kars v Brown & Ors [2026] EWHC 31 (Fam)- Acted in a High Court administration and breach of trust claim, challenging executor maladministration, excessive fees, improper compromise of an IA 1975 claim, accounting and tax failures, and seeking restitution and equitable compensation.
  • Advised on a claim by a surviving husband left without reasonable financial provision, involving parallel possession proceedings and assessment of financial needs, health issues
  • Advice on claim by a long-term cohabitant after her partner died intestate, addressing standing, financial need, pension benefits, and an alternative unjust enrichment claim
  • Advised on entitlement of children born outside marriage under a will leaving the residue to “my children,” assessing Inheritance Act 1975 prospects.
  • Advised on claim brought through a litigation friend by a protected party with significant mental health and care needs, seeking reasonable financial provision from her late father’s estate

Administration of Estates

  • Advising beneficiary on a matter concerned an application to remove an executor under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985
  • Advising on High Court contentious probate and trust dispute involving allegations of attorney and carer restitutionary claims and declarations as to beneficial ownership.
  • Advising on succession and probate issues arising from a transatlantic copyright dispute over the UK rights in a catalogue of songs written and American an American record label executive, songwriter, and record producer, following his death under a US will
  • Bringing a concerned an application under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985
  • Advising on behalf of a Court of Protection deputy in relation to an elderly incapacitated individual
  • Advising joint trustees in bankruptcy on probate and insolvency issues, including estate administration failures, inheritance tax claims, replacement of the personal representative
  • Advising an executor on an unregistered, apparently lost solar panel roof-space lease affecting the property’s sale and mortgage ability
  • Advising on an application to remove an obstructive executor under section 50 of the Administration of Justice Act 1985
  • Bringing High Court breach of trust claim against executors for maladministration, excessive fees, and improper handling of estate

TOLATA

  • Advising on pre-action correspondence in dispute over beneficial interests, addressing promissory estoppel, trust purpose, and opposing a sale order.
  • Advising the registered proprietor in a land registration dispute, rebutting constructive trust claims and resisting restrictions, showing properties were parental gifts and addressing misuse
  • Bringing claim where the court recognised sole beneficial ownership under a separation agreement, granting declaratory relief and addressing mortgage and title transfer issues.
  • Advising a life tenant and residuary beneficiary on disputed farming estate administration, addressing inheritance tax, repairs, income, alleged executor breaches, and remedies under TOLATA and CPR Part 64
  • Bringing a complex dispute over beneficial ownership, sale, and accounting of six jointly owned UK investment properties acquired after a significant lottery win.
  • Recommendations

    “It has been great to co work with Ashley on a very complex and contentious case. I cannot recommend her enough for her technical knowledge and skill. I was even more impressed with Ashley’s attitude to the case and that she was just as passionate, as I am, in order to get the best result for my client. My client and I felt the case was safe in her hands and I will definitely be briefing her again in the near future.”

    Richard Port MBE, ​George Green LLP

    “Thanks very much for the advice.  Please pass on my thanks to counsel – prompt, straight to the point, clear and professionally done.”

    Oxfordshire Solicitor

    "I do not have Ashley’s contact details, but could you express my thanks to her? I did so after the court hearing, but she did so well and was so friendly beforehand when we discussed the relevant details that I would like again to express my appreciation of her work."

    Client

    “A quick message to say thank you again for your thorough preparation and representation today. Count on getting instructions again. I find you listen to explanations, take on board background information, and good to get along with.”

    Bruce Turner, Chapman & Chubb

    “I really enjoyed working with you last week - you are clearly skilled in achieving that necessary balance between legal argument and pragmatism. I hope we’ll have another opportunity before too long.”

    Senior Mediator

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