Estate planning involves the drafting of legal documents that provide instructions on how your assets should be distributed upon your death. You can also use estate planning tools to nominate guardians for your young children, manage your finances and even your health...
Will Contests
Testamentary capacity as a ground for disputing a will
We live in a very litigious society. A will that is meant to take the guesswork out of the picture regarding what you want to happen to your estate when you die can become the subject of a costly legal battle. There are legitimate grounds upon which a will can be...
Signs of forgery in a person’s will
Some suspicious names surfaced as beneficiaries to your father’s estate. You suspect dishonesty and forgery are behind it. Someone took advantage of your vulnerable father and is attempting to steal your inheritance. As long as you have an interest in the estate, you...
Do you need to prove your deceased loved one was of sound mind?
If you spent a lot of time with a parent or grandparent that has since died, you might know how they wanted to distribute their assets. You also know they left a will detailing these wishes. What if another beneficiary contests the will based on the alleged mental...
Last-minute changes could be a reason to challenge the will
People can create a will any time after they become legal adults and generally retain the authority to do so until they lose their testamentary capacity. Often, those who create wills discuss them with family members so that people know what to expect. When someone...
Is it worthwhile to contest a will?
If you believe your loved one’s will doesn’t reflect their true wishes, you may want to contest it. While this is a legal right that you have, you have to consider whether or not it’s a smart move. For situations where you truly believe the will is not fair or based...
What kind of evidence can help with a will contest?
You believe that your loved one’s will cannot possibly reflect their real intentions. You feel very strongly that they were either coerced or bullied into making changes that negatively affect you – and you plan to challenge the will based on another party’s “undue...
Can you change a trustee you do not like?
When a family member puts assets in a trust for you, they clearly want you to have those assets in the end. You might therefore assume that once the family member dies, you can get rid of the trustee selected to manage the trust if you do not like them. Yet this is...
What is inheritance enforcement?
When someone passes away and you stand to inherit a portion of their assets, it’s both a sad time in your life and one that is a great gift. The last thing that should happen is for the situation to be tarnished by arguments or disputes. Unfortunately, those issues do...
Legitimate reasons to contest a will in Ohio
Several people may try to contest your will. This includes family members, friends, and even business partners who feel like you have been “unfair.” However, to have a valid case, the individual must have some type of legal standing. They must also have a valid reason...