Maumee Probate Litigation Blog
What makes a will valid and how can a will contest be avoided?
This blog has discussed different ways a will may be contested. To help avoid will contest, it is helpful for estate planners and their families to understand the components of a valid will. So, what makes a will valid? Legal capacity The estate planner must be of...
Self-dealing can jeopardize estates
A fiduciary assumes the duty of acting in the best interests of another person. But this responsibility is violated when the fiduciary acts solely in their own interest. This self-dealing can lead to trust contests and other estate lawsuits. Self-dealing explained...
Don’t overlook these signs of undue influence
Losing a loved one is hard. While you struggle to find a way to cope with the emotional fallout of your loss, things can be made worse when your loved one's estate plan doesn't unfold as expected. If you feel like you’ve been unfairly cut out of a will, then as...
7 common reasons families end up in inheritance disputes
When a loved one passes away, it isn’t uncommon for family members to become entangled in a dispute about their inheritance. If you will be the executor to your parents’ estate, you can end up having to deal with these squabbles and may need to work with an estate...
Think your loved one’s will is invalid? Consider legal help
Suddenly finding out that you were left out of a loved one’s estate plan can throw shockwaves throughout your life. There’s the emotional pain associated with the thought of your loved one intentionally leaving you out of their will or trust, but there might also be...
Recognizing the signs of power of attorney abuse
Ohio adults with elderly parents might suspect that someone is taking advantage of their parents’ old age. Your parents might have assigned someone to be their financial power of attorney – someone who has access to their finances to manage and pay the bills. If you...
What are my options for removing an attorney-in-fact?
Many people in the Toledo area have probably used a durable power of attorney to name a loved one or other trusted person as their attorney-in-fact. In Ohio, an attorney-in-fact, which the law also calls a person agent, has a lot of power. Unless it is limited in some...
Be prepared for a family split in farm inheritance disputes
Fifty years of existence means 50 years of tilling your farm’s land, harvesting its crops and milking its cows. That is how long your 800-acre farm has been in the family. And you understand that the chances of it remaining in your family another 50 years seem...
Wrongly left out of a will? Don’t just accept it
Losing a loved one is never easy. The emotional turmoil it can cause in more than enough to contend with, but the aftermath of a loved one’s passing can become much more complicated when issues arise with their estate plan. A will may appear to have been the product...
Dying without a will in Ohio
Most people understand the importance of a will. These legal documents outline a person’s final wishes and how they wish to divide their belongings, real estate and money among heirs. A will also names an administrator or executor, usually a close family member, who...
