Caroline Miller
Partner
Private Client


Expertise
Caroline leads the Inheritance, Trust and Probate Dispute Resolution team and her contentious work includes dealing with disputes arising from either a Will or Trust as well as claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (“1975 Act claims”), Variation of Trust Applications, and the removal of personal representative applications. Caroline advises Executors, Trustees, beneficiaries and professionals on their duties, obligations and rights with regards to Wills and Trusts. In addition to this, Caroline also advises on a wide range of non-contentious private client matters, including wealth protection, estate planning, trust and estate administration, and the preparation of Lasting Powers of Attorney, as well as applications to the Court of Protection. Caroline acts as both trustee for her trust clients and executor for her deceased clients.
Recent Experience
- Advising trustees of a large family trust worth over £90m on general trust administration
- Applying for the removal of an executor, which was resolved through mediation
- Advising a spouse in respect of a 1975 Act claim
- Variation of Trust application on a £500m trust to include application for anonymity
- Advising a couple on estate planning in respect of a £30m estate to include liaising with their accountant over the creation of a Family Investment Company and involving our corporate team for preparation of the articles for the same
- Advising a charitable trust on its ongoing administration to include hosting biannual trustees meetings
- Acting in the reported case of PQ and another v RS and others [2019] EWHC 1643 (Ch)
- Acting in the reported case of Rawstron and Anor v Freud [2014] EWHC 2577 (Ch)
Career History
Caroline trained at Penningtons and moved to the Private Client department of Finers Stephen Innocent in 2007. She joined the Private Client department of Cumberland Ellis in 2010 and has been at Wedlake Bell since the merger with Cumberland Ellis in April 2012. In 2019 Caroline was nominated for Lawyer of the Year/Partner at the CityWealth Future Leaders Awards. She is a member of Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). Caroline is an elected member of the STEP Special Interest Group committee for Contentious Trusts and Estates and is on the 2020/21 Panel of Experts for the STEP awards.
Caroline qualified in 2006 and has a degree in Theology from the University of Durham.
Publications
Caroline has written a variety of articles for publications to include Spears, eprivate client, Todays Wills and Probate and InTrust (Private Client team magazine).
"Caroline Miller is a litigator with deep private client knowledge. "
— Legal 500, 2021
"Caroline Miller is steadily building a reputation as a significant player in this field"
— Legal 500 UK, 2020
"Top 35 under 35 by Private Client Practitioner in 2012, 2013, 2014"
""outstanding, and continually keeps the client updated,""
— Legal 500, 2014
"“an excellent communicator""
— Legal 500, 2016
"Named in the 2014 Spears Guide to the Top High Net Worth Private Client Advisors;"
"Shortlisted by Spears for Young Turk Tax and Trust Lawyer 2014"
"Caroline Miller is ‘very knowledgeable’ ."
— Legal 500, 2017
Insights
Piercing the art world’s cloak of secrecy: Hickox v Dickinson – eprivateclient
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PENSION TRANSFERS: INHERITANCE TAX TRAP?
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Remote witnessing of Wills – what could possibly go wrong?
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Episode 17: The Importance of Making a Will
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How families can get the wealth transfer right and avoid things getting messy – EPrivateClient
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Remote witnessing: no longer a remote possibility for Wills- Today’s Wills and Probate
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Estate Planning for the Complex Client seminar on 14 May 2019
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Profile – Caroline Miller
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Caroline Miller and Clare Armitage: Advising complex clients – Professional Adviser 29/04/2019
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“I am unhappy with the personal representatives administering an estate. What can I do?” – Caroline Miller writes for Advising Families
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“Could my will be challenged by friends or relatives after my death?” – Caroline Miller explores for Advising Families
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IN TRUST SUMMER 2017: THY WILL BE DONE?
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“Can you alter a joint Will?” – Caroline Miller and Andrew McIntyre respond for Choice Magazine
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