What To Do If a Will or Trust Was Changed
If your loved one unexpectedly changed a will or trust, you might be wondering what to do. Or perhaps a family member recently passed away and the property distribution was drastically different from a previous estate plan, or what you were told to expect. These types of situations are highly sensitive and emotional, especially if […]
The Professional Trustee’s Guide to Estate Contests and Disputes
Estate contests and disputes can be intimidating for anyone, even a professional trustee. In this guide, we’ve answered some of the questions we’re commonly asked about estate and trust contests, estate disputes, and other issues professional trustees may face. What Are the Most Common Estate Contests and Disputes? Estate contests and disputes occur when an […]
The Ultimate Guide to Undue Influence
Undue influence in families is an act of abuse, often by heirs victimizing their elderly parents or other family members to increase their will inheritance or trust fund distributions. Undue influence can be actual or implied, and proving undue influence is the responsibility of heirs, beneficiaries, trustees of trusts, and administrators or executors of wills. […]
What an Executor Can and Cannot Do: A Comprehensive Guide
Executors cannot do things which are contrary to the benefit of heirs, beneficiaries, and the estate. This means if you suspect an executor is withholding your inheritance distributions, you would have the right to sue the estate, or litigate to suspend, remove and replace the executor. What is an Executor of Will or Administrator of […]
The Disinherited Child’s Guide to Getting an Inheritance
Most states allow for a parent to disinherit a child. Those that do not still allow for partial disinheritance. Whether fully or partially disinherited, a child may still have rights to their inheritance. They key is to prove the child was disinherited for unjustifiable reasons, the parent lacked capacity when they disinherited the child, the […]
Can I Contest My Parents’ Will in California?
Clients often call wondering how they can void a will that they feel does not represent their deceased loved one’s intent. Whether you call it voiding a will, disputing a will, challenging a will, or contesting a will –these all simply mean the court process by which a beneficiary name in a will, or an […]