Contesting a Will

Full Video Transcript

The reading of a will can cause much unrest and anger for those who feel they may have been shut out or didn’t receive what they think they are entitled to. Therefore, a will can be contested by relatives or beneficiaries. There are generally four grounds for contesting a will: 1. The deceased was incompetent when they made the will. 2. The deceased was acting under undue influence or fraud when they made the will. 3. The will was improperly executed, or 4. There is a later valid will. If the contest is successful, all or part of the will may be thrown out. However, if the contest is unsuccessful, the person contesting the will usually won’t receive anything. However, some legal actions are not considered to be a contest. For instance, a person bringing forward a later version of a will he or she believes is genuine will not lose the right to inherit even if the will contest is lost. For more information about contesting a will, contact an attorney today.