Estate planning documents may be updated several times throughout someone's life. The needs of a college student or a young professional are vastly different from the estate planning requirements of a new parent or a retired adult. Although it is best to start estate...
Probate Litigation
Are there risks to contesting a Washington will?
After a loved one has passed on, you most likely want to honor their wishes, including how they wanted their property and assets to be distributed. However, sometimes the only way to fulfill their legacy may involve challenging their will. Maybe one of the...
Red flags that an estate dispute may be coming
Ideally, an estate will be distributed to the heirs without any sort of conflict among them. They will all simply follow the instructions in the estate plan and things will go as intended. However, this does not always happen, and estate disputes – particularly among...
Understanding inheritance theft
Inheritance theft isn’t something anyone wants to think someone in their family is capable of. Unfortunately, however, inheritance theft does occur. A family doesn’t have to be especially wealthy to experience inheritance theft. It occurs with estates of all sizes....
Will contest: Proving undue influence
If you suspect your loved one was a victim of undue influence when making their will, you can challenge its validity in a probate court. Undue influence happens between the perpetrator and the victim and takes time. In most cases, the victim and the people around...
Will the Washington courts punish you for a will contest?
Losing someone close to you is hard enough, but learning that their will is completely contrary to what they always told you it would be can be even worse. The inheritance that they always promised you may have included property that has real emotional value to you in...
Contesting a will: Is it worth it?
Losing a loved one is tragic, and the loss can be compounded by finding out you have been left out of a will or gotten less than you expected from their estate. Under certain circumstances, you can challenge a will in court – but you do need to consider several...
3 signs of undue influence in an estate plan
Realizing that your loved one didn't have the estate plan you thought they did can be a disappointing experience. Most of the time, you have to accept your dissatisfaction with their decision and move on with your life. However, in cases where you suspect someone else...
Are you thinking of contesting a will? Read this first
When someone dies and their estate plans hold some unpleasant surprises, you might consider challenging their will. Before you announce your intention to do so, however, give yourself time to decide if it is the right thing to do. Will contests can create significant...
Estate disputes often involve sentimental items
Estate disputes have many causes, ranging from a will appearing to be fake to heirs wondering if their parent even had the mental capacity to write a will at the end of their life. There are usually solutions that can be found, but one of the most difficult situations...