Emotional personal litigation such as disputes over wills can have a big impact on the mental health of people involved who often have to challenge family members’ actions.

In a new survey of its will disputes lawyers, UK national law firm Irwin Mitchell has found over 80 percent of respondents said most or some of their clients had shown symptoms of mental health issues such as anxiety or depression during the course of their will dispute proceedings. At the same time, 90 percent of those surveyed believing their clients had difficulties in asking for help.

The most common responses for how will disputes lawyers dete...