Probate: Larke vs Nugus statement
<p>When contesting a will in UK law a "larke vs nugus" letter may be sent to a solicitor holding the will to request they provide evidence relating to the how the will was drafted.
See for example:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/knowledge/legal-articles/2013/04/09/how-start-disputing-will/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/knowledge/legal-articles/2013/04/09/how-start-disputing-will/</a></p>

<p><strong>Do you have to be a legal professional to request a Larke vs Nugus statement?
Can you request one only if you are contesting the will or is the possibility that you might sufficient?</strong></p>

<p>On the first point I have confirmed that a para-legal is able to do it which suggests that a layman might as well.</p>

<p>Not the main question but bonus points if you can provide insight into how this relates to client confidentiality? </p>

<p>Generally speaking the solicitor who holds the will may give a Larke v Nugus statement to anyone he wishes. This wouldn't (or at least shouldn't) breach any rules of client confidentiality</p>

<p>That said, it is up to the discretion of the solicitor on who he gives such a statement to, and it is entirely possible (as was the case in Larke v Nugus) that the solicitor refuses to give such a statement, though as was pointed out in the article you linked, the Law Society has included in their guidelines that a lawyer should act in such a way as to avoid unnecessary legal costs in relation to probate, which should make it easier for someone seeking such a statement.</p>

<p>But I would believe that a lawyer would give out such a statement only to people he deemed should be allowed to access such information, which would generally be <a href="http://www.tmsolicitors.co.uk/about-us/contesting-a-will/who-can-contest-a-will/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">people who could challenge a will</a>, including:</p>

<ul>
<li>Family Members </li>
<li>Someone who was financially dependant on the Deceased</li>
<li>A beneficiary under the will or an earlier will</li>
<li>Someone who is owed Money / debt claims</li>
<li>Someone who was promised something by the Deceased</li>
<li>Someone who wants to obtain the grant of probate or letters of administration</li>
</ul>

<p>For more information, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> is a resource that allows you to search wills and letters of administration for persons deceased after 1858</p>

<p>There is no restriction on you providing legal services for yourself in the same way that there is no restriction on you performing an appendectomy on yourself. However, neither is a good idea for essentially the same reason: you don't know what you're doing and the consequences of screwing it up can be severe.</p>

united-kingdom wills