I am involved in helping a relative who has a claim on the estate of a someone who died intestate. There has been a preliminary hearing. The other party's solicitors have asked to see copies of my relative's bank statements going back several years. Are they entitled to see these bank statements? I would have thought that it would require a court order to compel someone to provide their bank statements to a an opponent's solicitor. Any advice will be gratefully received. Many thanks.

Hi, this seems a little confusing, has your relative asked why they want to see the bank statements, there must be a reason for this. If your relative refuses, then a court order needs to be obtained, they must satisfy the JP that there is reasonable suspision of any wrong doing. Can you tell me a little more about the circumstances of this situation.

My relative is bringing a claim against the estate of the deceased under the Inheritance (Provision For Family And Dependants Act) 1975. Her claim is based on the fact that she was being partly maintained by the deceased. She knows the other parties in the case very well because they live in the same small town and she has been on friendly terms with them in the past. She has been offering to go to informal meetings or meetings with their solicitors to discuss the case but the other party has refused to do so. As a result the case has gone to county court. She is reluctant to show her personal bank statements to people she knows well but will produce them if it is a legal requirement or the judge asks her to do so. At what stage is she obliged to show her bank statements to the other party?

Hi again, without knowing the details of the relationship with the deceased, I would expect the other party want proof of the amount paid monthly to perhaps work out what entitlement is due or is not due against the estate. Maybe worth asking if that is the case, it is confidential infomation and really the solicitors involved should threat it as such and not make it public news for anyone else.