There are plenty of estate disputes that center around financial value. One heir gets less than another and contests the will on the grounds that the heir who got more money used undue influence to get it, for example. Money is a major source of conflict, especially...
“What? That old thing?” Some people boast about the value of the objects they own. Others take the opposite approach, downplaying the cost of a painting or piece of furniture they “found in a thrift store.” They may care so little about an item’s monetary value that...
Estate administration is somewhat notorious for being a time-consuming process. While you may hope to receive your share of the inheritance promised in the estate plan quickly, the executor has many things they have to do before they can distribute assets to you and...
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...
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...
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...
When a person dies, their assets enter a legal process called probate. During the process, a court looks at the deceased’s wills, trusts and insurance policies to divide an estate per the deceased’s wishes. Unfortunately, probate is not cheap. Court fees and fines...
There are various reasons as to why someone would want to contest a will. Maybe the person was surprised to find out that he or she has been left out of the will, or maybe the person has discovered that the will is not valid at all. Regardless of the reasons, it is...
It is not uncommon for the contents of a loved one’s will to disappoint at least one prospective heir. The disappointment may stem from receiving a smaller portion than anticipated or from being cut out of the will altogether. Blended families, multiple marriages and...
Probate litigation has opened many doors for those who are looking to challenge wills. There are plenty of instances when someone would rely on this but usually the court choose to pass the wills since they consider it to be the testator’s voice expressing his or her...
