Last Updated on 14th April 2026
Our popular inheritance dispute helpline frequently receives enquiries from people asking, ‘Do I have a right to inherit from my grandparents?’
There are several aspects to this question that need to be considered.
1. Did your grandparent die without a will?
If someone passes away without having made a will, then their money and property will be distributed under the intestacy rules.
Under the intestacy rules, where a last surviving grandparent has a child who has predeceased them, then that deceased child’s share of the estate will pass to their own children (ie the grandparent’s grandchildren) in equal shares.
2. Did your grandparent die having made a will?
If your grandparent has died leaving a will, then you may inherit in two ways:
First, if you are named in the will, you will be entitled to inherit the gift that has been left to you under the terms of that will.
Second, if the will contained a gift to your parent who has predeceased your grandparent, then you will be entitled to receive their share (split equally with any siblings) provided that the will itself does not specify that you are not entitled to inherit in these circumstances.
3. Making a claim under the Inheritance Act
If you were financially dependent upon your grandparent, or you were treated by your grandparent as a ‘child of the family’, then you may be entitled to bring an Inheritance Act claim for reasonable financial provision from the estate.
The term ‘child of the family’ refers to someone who was effectively treated by the deceased as their own child within the family unit. This can include grandchildren, along with stepchildren and foster children.
So, if you have been raised by your grandparents rather than your biological parents, then you could make a claim if you have not received reasonable financial provision.
How we can help you claim the inheritance you are entitled to
We have successfully represented many grandchildren in recovering an inheritance from their grandparent’s estate, including a case where our client had lived with his late grandfather for many years, but wasn’t included in the Will.
Our SRA regulated solicitors are five-star rated* and recommended by the Legal 500 for their expertise in dealing with inheritance disputes.
For further guidance on ‘Do I have a right to inherit from my grandparents?’ and details of no win, no fee funding, contact our free legal helpline on 0333 888 0407 or email info@inheritancedisputes.co.uk.