- The 2nd Edition of the ‘Contentious Probate Handbook’ (2025) has been published in print by the Law Society of England and Wales. The Law is stated as at 1 September 2024. You can order the book using one of the following links:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contentious-Probate-Handbook-Practice-Precedents/dp/1784462349
https://bookshop.lawsociety.org.uk/p/contentious-probate-hand-2nd-edition-paperback
The image is of the book in the Carey Street window of the world’s oldest Law Bookshop – Wildy & Sons in Lincoln’s Inn, London (28 February 2025).
Copies of the book – fill the entire window.
On the other side of the road from this window are:
(i) The Royal Court of Justice ; and
(ii) The Law Society building.
The archway leads into Lincoln’s Inn – where I am a member and was called to the Bar.
Book Reviews:
Book Review of the 2nd Edition of the Contentious Probate Handbook (2025), published in the Law Society Gazette 6 July 2025 –
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/reviews/charting-a-clients-journey-to-court-and-beyond/5123797.article
‘This is essential reading for all aspiring contentious probate practitioners. It is also a useful manual which experienced solicitors may refer to during complex claims. It is well-stocked with relevant references to up-to-date decisions, featuring useful extracts from leading judgments and statutory instruments, such as the Chancery Guide 2022.
Islam takes the reader on a journey from the first meeting with a client looking to bring a probate claim, through the process of investigating the facts and obtaining evidence, the pre-action exchanges, and the full court process up to trial and beyond. … In summary, this book is a vitally important source of both reference and analysis…’
(Book Review written by Lewis Hastie who is Director of Contentious Probate at BRM Solicitors Limited, in Sheffield).
Another review was written by Heledd Wyn: https://lnkd.in/emcD_TDZ for publication in the STEP Journal later in the year –
‘Carl Islam’s Contentious Probate Handbook (2nd Edition, 2025) is an indispensable resource for legal professionals in England and Wales who are navigating the intricate landscape of probate trust and inheritance disputes – whether that is pre-emptively or because proceedings need to be issued. As a seasoned barrister specializing in contentious probate, Islam offers an authoritative and practical guide.
The Contentious Probate Handbook is meticulously crafted to provide detailed guidance on the law and practice relevant to probate disputes. It addresses key issues and procedures that legal professionals encounter, aiming to equip them with the knowledge and tools necessary to handle these complex cases effectively. … For those seeking to enhance their expertise and effectiveness in this challenging field, Islam’s handbook is an essential addition to their legal library.’
- Video on YouTube of my online talk to members of the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates worldwide – ‘Mediation Advocacy in Trust and Estate Disputes’ (24.11.2024):
- ‘Golden rule in commercial mediation.’ Published online in the Law Society Gazette, 13.05.2024: Golden rule in commercial mediation | Law Gazette
- ‘Downton revisited – Mediating estate disputes involving art and heritage property.’ Published in Taxation (Tolley) 14.12.2023. Mediating estate disputes involving art and heritage property | Taxation
- ‘Commercial Mediation of Music Disputes.’ Published in the Law Society Gazette 01.12.2023: Commercial mediation of music disputes | Law Gazette
See also: Commercial Mediation of Music Disputes — Civil Mediation
- ‘Mediating Probate and Trust Disputes – Process Challenges and Tools – Part 2.’ Mediating probate and trust disputes—process challenges and tools: part 2 | Trusts & Trustees | Oxford Academic (oup.com) Published online by Oxford University Press in Trusts & Trustees 24.06.2023. This was published in print in the Journal worldwide in September 2023.
- ‘Mediating Probate and Trust Disputes – Process Challenges and Tools – Part 1.’ Published online by Oxford University Press in Trusts & Trustees 14.11.2022 (https://academic.oup.com/tandt) . Published in print in the Journal in February 2023. Link to the article [Mediating probate and trust disputes—process challenges and tools: part 1 | Trusts & Trustees | Oxford Academic (oup.com)].
- ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road – Off to Mediation with HMRC – Part 2.’ Published in ‘Taxation’ by Tolley, 05.01.2023. Part 3 will be written in 2023. Link to the article [Off to mediation with HMRC | Taxation].
- ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road – Off to Mediation with HMRC – Part 1’. Published in ‘Taxation’ by Tolley on 15.12.2022. [https://www.taxation.co.uk/] Link to the article [Off to mediation with HMRC | Taxation].
- ‘Back to the future’ – Part 2 – Mediation and Estate/Business Succession Planning. Taxation (Tolley) 08.03.2022: Mediation and estate planning | Taxation
- ‘Back to the future’ – Part 1 – Mediation and the tax-efficient settlement of probate disputes. Taxation (Tolley) 01.03.2022:Mediation and tax-efficient settlement of probate disputes | Taxation
- ‘Electing between equitable remedies’, published by Trusts & Trustees (Oxford University Press), 16 December 2021: https://academic.oup.com/tandt/advance-article/doi/10.1093/tandt/ttab101/6464191?guestAccessKey=247ea00c-f63d-4359-aa69-60b7e4bf3b5a
- ‘Judicial-ENE and the New Normal’, published by Trusts & Trustees (Oxford University Press), 14 December 2020: Abstract:
https://academic.oup.com/tandt/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/tandt/ttaa096/6034053 Article: Judicial-ENE and the ‘New Normal’ | Trusts & Trustees | Oxford Academic (oup.com)PDF: OP-TANT200101 1..9 (silverchair.com) - ‘Contentious Trusts Handbook – Practice and Precedents’, 1st Edition, 400 pages including a CD-ROM, priced £100.00, published by the Law Society in July 2020 (ISBN-13:978-1-78446-12446-124-9).
- ‘Contentious Probate Handbook – Practice and Precedents’, 1st Edition, 424 pages including a CD-ROM, priced £79.95, published by the Law Society 1 October 2016 (ISBN: 9781784460600). The photograph shows the book on display in the window of Wildy & Sons, on Fleet Street, in London.
- ‘Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims and the Quiet Fiduciary Thesis’ published in Trusts & Trustees by Oxford University Press, February 2019:
Abstract: https://academic.oup.com ; Article:
https://academic.oup.com - ‘The Advocate and the Expert in the Court of Protection’, published in the Expert Witness Journal (Autumn 2018). Co-authored with Dr Hugh Series of Oxford University. https://expertwitnessjournal.co.uk/more/past-issues/1018-issue-25. The Advocate and the Expert in the Court of Protection | Expert Witness Journal
- ‘Equitable compensation arising out of sale of a property ordered under section 14 TLATA’ published in Trusts & Trustees by Oxford University Press, Trusts & Trustees, Volume 23, Issue 10, 1 December 2017, Pages 990–995, https://academic.oup.com/tandt/article-abstract/23/10/990/4669688. Link to Abstract and Article
- ‘Bricks and mortar – the practical application of the residence nil rate band, including drafting issues and claiming the relief’, co-authored with Stephanie Churchill CTA and published in Taxation (12 October 2017) www.taxation.co.uk: LINK.
- ‘The Advocate and the Expert in a Testamentary Capacity Claim’, the paper serialised in the monthly Newsletter of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS), of the talk I presented at their Annual Spring Seminar on 7 April 2016, at Charles Russell Speechlys in the City of London. HANDOUT. *
- ‘The Advocate and the Expert in a Testamentary Capacity Claim’, published in the Expert Witness Journal (Autumn 2015) LINK* (for the on-line version click this link).
- ‘Tax-Efficient Wills Simplified 2014/2015’ (Amazon Kindle book).
The paperback edition was ranked by Amazon as a UK bestseller at Number 5 in its genre (23.12.2014), and please click HERE* to view the ranking, and at Number 2 (22.12.2014), for most popular products ordered as gifts in the category of personal taxation, and to view the ranking please click HERE*. - ‘Tax-Efficient Wills Simplified 2013/2014’, published by Management Books 2000 Ltd.
- ‘Tax-Efficient Wills Simplified 2012/2013’, published by Management Books 2000 Ltd . On Christmas Eve Amazon (based on its own internet sales) ranked the book 8 in the top 100 of bestselling books in the category of money and finance guides. [LINK].
- ‘Tax-Efficient Wills Simplified 2011/2012′, published by Management Books 2000 Ltd. Photos from November’s book launch – click the images to enlarge
- ‘Tax-Efficient Wills Simplified 2010/2011′, published by Management Books 2000 Ltd.
- ‘Tax-efficient wills’ published in Taxation Magazine (by Lexis Nexis Butterworths) (March 2008). http://www.taxation.co.uk/taxation/articles/2008/03/05/6100/tax-efficient-wills. http://www.lnbconnect.co.uk/Taxation-Magazine/Page-4.html.
- ‘The concept of sham in relation to offshore trusts, how such a situation can arise and how best it can be avoided’ published in the Journal of International Trust and Corporate Planning, Volume 14, Issue 3, 2007, by Jordans. LINK
- ‘Thin edge of the wedge (Part 1)’ published by Euromoney in Project Finance Magazine (July 2001). The adjudication of power project disputes in the aftermath of ABB Zantingh Ltd v. Zedal Building Services Ltd. Text version available HERE*.
- ‘The legal and commercial consequences of performing unspecified design work in ship-conversion projects’ (April 1999). International Conference Paper published by the Royal Institute of Naval Architects in London. LINK*
- ‘Les effets de la directive communautaire sur la responsabilite du fait des produits sur l’introduction d’une instance au Royaume-Uni’ (how to bring a product liability claim in England). Revue du Marche Commun. No325 mars 1989: 176-179, which was cited on the United Nations Biographic Information System.
- ‘The inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises.’ The Law Society Guardian Gazette 29th June 1988, Vol.95, cited in Wikipedia August 15th 2012 LINK. Text version available HERE.
*Please note that you will need a suitable pdf reader to view the document, if you need to download the software please click your choice of link below: