In France, inheritance laws recognise the concept of "reserved heirs," ensuring that certain family members, such as children or spouses, have a legal right to a proportion of the deceased person's estate. This provision safeguards families from arbitrary disinheritance, enabling them to maintain a sense of security and financial stability during their time of grief and beyond. 

Unfortunately, the UK currently lacks similar legislation, leaving families vulnerable to being unjustly disinherited by their loved ones, or not adequately provided for in a will.

Although the UK’s Inheritance Provision for Family and Dependants Act 1975 enables a person who can show they should reasonably have been provided for to make a claim against an estate, the path to doing so can be a very lengthy, costly and distressing process. 

This void in the law is creating numerous cases where individuals have either been left extremely little, or without any inheritance at all, despite having been an integral part of the deceased's life. 

The distress caused by disinheritance often extends far beyond the realms of financial loss. It can call a lifetime of memories into question, shatter families, strain relationships and inflict long lasting emotional scars without any recourse for justice. In many cases, the surviving family members are left grappling with feelings of abandonment, anger, and betrayal, impacting their mental well-being and the sense of unity within the family. 

No family should face the agony and injustice of being unfairly excluded from their loved one's will, especially when they have always maintained a close and loving relationship with the testator.

Sadly this is becoming increasingly more common. The Direct Line survey found there had been an increase of 6 percent in a single year in people contesting grants of probate, with one of the most popular grounds for litigation being undue influence. 

Furthermore, insight reported by IBB indicates that in general, families are most likely to experience a dispute in relation to a father’s will rather than any other relation.

It is time for the UK to address this pressing issue and enact legislation that protects families from unwarranted disinheritance, just like the concept of "reserved heirs" in French inheritance laws.

By signing this petition, you’re calling upon the UK Parliament to enact robust laws that safeguard families from being unfairly disinherited. By doing so, we can protect not only the financial security of families, but also their emotional well-being and the fundamental principles of love, trust, and solidarity that construct the foundation of healthy families.