Nicola Turner

Partner, Head of Contentious Trusts and Probate

Nicola is a Partner and Head of Contentious Trusts and Probate.

As part of our litigation team, Nicola specialises in disputes relating to wills, inheritance, estates and trusts, as well as financial abuse of the vulnerable and property trust cases. She conducts litigation in the High Court, County Court, Probate Registry and Court of Protection.

Nicola is a full member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Solicitors and recognised for her work by The Legal 500, which describes her as “a talented litigator” that “stands out… in the accuracy of her judgement of cases and their likely outcome” and adds that “Nicola is not afraid to give direct advice and she never sits on the fence”.

Nicola has a varied and complex caseload, including:

Disputes between beneficiaries and executors/trustees regarding the performance of their duties and the administration of estates or trusts, which may require executors to be replaced or the court’s involvement to resolve an impasse.
Challenges and investigations to the validity of a will (including cases that involve undue influence or mental capacity).
Claims for provision from estates on behalf of disappointed potential beneficiaries made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Cases with a business or commercial element, including disputes as to whether business interests and assets fall within an estate.
Cases where Probate Registry proceedings can be used as an alternative to expensive litigation, including applications for an inventory and account or to force the production of testamentary documents.
Disputes regarding jointly and solely owned property within the context of estate assets, including proprietary estoppel and constructive and/or resulting trusts arguments.
Financial abuse cases, representing the most vulnerable people in society, including those who are protected parties and have (or require) an attorney or deputy, including disputes regarding lifetime transactions and/or gifts and the actions of attorneys.

Nicola receives most of her instructions through recommendation. She is not only seen as the lawyer of choice by the public in the contentious probate field, but also by fellow lawyers in their own right.

Nicola takes the time to deeply understand her clients’ priorities, end goals and the specific approach they would like taken in their case, which helps her to develop bespoke strategies to resolve cases with the best possible outcome.

Prior to joining Brabners in September 2023, Nicola worked for two Lancashire-based law firms. After training and qualifying as a solicitor in 2005, Nicola went on to become Head of Civil Litigation before holding the role of Partner and Head of Contentious Probate.

Nicola was educated at Kirkham Grammar School before studying law and criminology at The University of Sheffield. She then completed her Legal Practice Course with Distinction at The University of Central Lancashire.

Nicola grew up in Kirkham and continues to live in the Preston area with her family. She is based in our Lancashire office.