Will Contests: How to Win or Prevent Them

No matter how clear and concise a person’s will is written, there’s always a chance that someone will challenge it.

Sometimes, relatives of a deceased family member may feel they aren’t getting a fair share. Or it could be you who disagrees with the interpretation of a will and feel you are being denied an inheritance. Other times, assets disappear before someone even dies, and the will has nothing to give.

In this podcast edition of Life Happens, Lou Pierro and Jacob Verchereau discuss the ins and outs of will contests from both sides: the challenge or defense of a will. They also describe related client cases to highlight the legal process. For example:

• Your dad buys property after executing his will. Upon his passing, an estranged relative now thinks she is entitled to the property because it wasn’t specifically mentioned in the will

• After a mother dies, a child she disinherited through her will claims that his mother lacked capacity at the time the will was signed and alleges that the will is invalid

• Your brother has power of attorney and moves in with dad, and when dad dies, the house and bank accounts are in your brother’s name

Listen to this Life Happens podcast to get information on legal planning for wills that can withstand, resolve or prevent a challenge.