Nicole joined JMW Solicitors in August 2021, as a paralegal in the Personal Injury department. She then began her training contract in September 2023, were she completed one seat in the Private Client department and three seats in the Contentious Probate department. Upon completion of her training contract, she has now qualified into the Private Wealth Disputes department.

Nicole's paralegal and trainee experience has given her a strong foundation and she is able to offer specialist advice on a wide range of claims, including:

1. Will validity challenges;

2. Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975;

3. Estate administration disputes including executor removal applications;

4, Trust disputes including trustee removal and replacement.

Nicole is a member of the Contentious Trusts Association.

Nicole graduated from The University of Law in Manchester with a 1:1 Law degree, before completing her Masters and LPC and attaining a Distinction.

Outside of work, Nicole enjoys socialising with family and friends and keeping active by going on long walks and regularly attending the gym. She also enjoys baking, which the team seem to like.

Nicole Hulme of JMW’s Private Wealth Disputes team recently represented a client in a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, against the estate of her late father.

The Deceased died leaving a will, which left his entire estate to his son and left no provision for our client, who was just 3 years old. The Deceased had executed the Will before our client had been born and it was believed she would have been an equal beneficiary, had the Deceased created the Will after her birth.

Pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Act, our client was an eligible applicant, who could bring a claim on the ground that she had not been left reasonable financial provision under her father’s Will. As a minor, our client had no earning capacity and would not for many years. Consequently, she relied entirely on her mother, who was not a beneficiary under the Will.

Given the Defendant’s status as a minor, we initially proposed a settlement of 50% of the Deceased’s estate, which was declined by the defendant’s legal representatives. However, following further negotiations, the Defendant ultimately offered the same 50% division, which we accepted on behalf of our client.

As both our client and the Defendant were minors, the settlement needed to be approved by the Court. We prepared the settlement agreement, tomlin order and obtained counsel’s confidential opinion, which confirmed the settlement was in both our client’s and the Defendant’s best interests. An infant approval hearing took place, and the Judge approved the settlement.

A considerable financial settlement was achieved for our client without the need for extensive litigation, which would have been stressful and costly for our client.