When what is inherited after a long time of devotion and care are just jumbles, life can seem very bitter. If the will seems unfair and you want to fight for your rights and your inheritance, you should hire an attorney and explore other options. There are many cases where you should contest the will. Consider burying the inheritance money upfront if you’re sure you’ll win the case, but have an urgent need for money.
One of the most common reasons people contest a will is when they received too little because the decedent was clearly influenced. The best example is the case of what we call “gold diggers”, people who marry rich people to get their money. A 60-70 year old millionaire will surely attract many gold diggers who will try to influence the main beneficiaries of the will. This can also happen if the deceased was helped by a nurse, who surprisingly received a large inheritance. The police should be involved in this. There are many cases where social workers blackmailed or coerced their wealthy patients to change the will in their favor.
If the decedent suffered from mental problems when the will was signed, you should try to contest it. Providing an ambiguous will should make him question the distribution of inheritance from him. Obtaining medical records showing progressive mental deterioration must be shown to the court and provide a strong reason to challenge the distribution of the estate.
When the will is not granted in accordance with the laws of the State, the opportunity to challenge it will be given. Pay attention to all state laws. A will can be declared invalid for all kinds of procedures that were not done properly, such as having enough witnesses or failing to comply with state inheritance distribution laws.
A more serious accusation is when you believe that the will is a false document or the result of a fraud or forgery. There are plenty of heinous thieves out there and some of them will go as far as convincing an older person to sign a will, while tricking them into signing something else. You will need a very good attorney to prove the scam. Also, if the will is not signed by the decedent, or the signature appears to be forged, alert the authorities.
And there are many other cases where a will can be challenged. It is important to be mentally prepared for the process and gather all available documents.
