My wife’s aunt died without making a will. Her gardener, who has been living in the house for the last two years for security reasons, is claiming the entire estate on the basis of an alleged verbal promise. He won’t go. Couldn’t our solicitor force him to leave?
This will depend on the evidence that the gardener can produce about the “promise” and the nature of his relationship with your aunt. If the gardener is claiming that he lived as man and wife with your aunt he could be claiming in court for provision to be made for him from her estate, irrespective of the promise. It’s possible a court wouldn’t allow the gardener to be evicted until the matter is resolved if he has a strong case.