Where Was The Inheritance Filmed?
The Lessons You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Channel 5’s gripping drama, The Inheritance, had the nation hooked with its tale of secrets, betrayal, and a family torn apart by a last-minute Will. But beyond the captivating plot lies a crucial message for us all.
We reveal the locations where the series was filmed and explore the vital inheritance lessons that could save your own family from a real-life drama.
The stunning backdrop for the Dennis family’s unravelling was none other than the historic county of Kilkenny in south-west Ireland. The cast and crew spent weeks filming in and around Kilkenny City, with its charming streets and grand architecture providing the perfect setting for a story of hidden wealth and bitter disputes.
Watch a tour of the city here (Youtube: Kilkenny Most Beautiful Medieval Town in Ireland).
Eagle-eyed viewers may also have spotted that the funeral home scenes were filmed further afield, in Inverness, Scotland. These picturesque locations are more than just eye candy; they represent the legacy and security that a well-planned inheritance should provide, but which can be so easily lost.
When TV Drama Becomes Real Life
The plot of The Inheritance is a classic cautionary tale: three siblings, reeling from their father’s death, discover that he secretly changed his Will, leaving his entire estate to a new wife they never knew existed. They are left with nothing but shock, suspicion, and a brewing family war.
If this sounds like pure fiction, think again. This scenario is unfolding across Britain with increasing frequency and devastation. Of the ones we at least know about, as many as 10,000 people in England and Wales challenge a Will each year (The Guardian), often in “ruinously expensive” court battles that can swallow the entire estate.
One of the biggest triggers for these disputes is precisely what we see in the show: a second marriage leading to children from a first marriage being unintentionally disinherited. It’s a legal trap that many people fall into, creating a perfect storm of grief and betrayal that can destroy families forever.
3 Crucial Lessons from The Show
The Inheritance dramatises several common pitfalls. Understanding them is the first step to protecting your loved ones.
1. The Peril of Secret Wills and Sudden Disinheritance
The bombshell moment for the siblings is finding they’ve been cut out of the Will entirely. This shock quickly turns to anger and suspicion. In real life, feeling abandoned and questioning a parent’s love leads many to launch costly legal challenges.
2. The Remarriage Trap
One of the most common and devastating mistakes is assuming a Will made before a marriage is still valid. In England and Wales, marriage automatically revokes any existing Will. Without a new one, your estate is distributed under the strict rules of intestacy, where your new spouse is first in line, often leaving children from previous relationships with nothing.
3. The Risk of Poor, Outdated or Unclear Advice
The murky circumstances of the father’s new Will in the show—a secret marriage, a hasty change—are classic red flags. Ambiguous or poorly drafted Wills are an open invitation for disputes, raising questions about the deceased’s mental capacity or whether they were pressured.
Want more insights to protect your family?
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Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. No responsibility is accepted for any action taken or not taken based on the content of this article. Readers should seek appropriate professional advice tailored to their circumstances before making decisions. April King Legal will not be held liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this information.
