When you are dealing with the death of a loved one, the last thing that you want to be worrying about is the stress and strain of arguing with your siblings and looking for a will contest law firm in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the attorneys at Klenk Law know this is exactly the time when rifts appear between siblings. If something in your parent’s will appears to be unfair, or one sibling was left items or property that another sibling believes he or she deserves, arguing can ensue and there might be threats to contest this will. Our team understands this difficult time that you are going through, and we can help explain the circumstances when it is possible to contest a will. If you have any further questions about this or would like to get in touch with one of our lawyers, call our firm today at (215) 790-1095.
What Does It Mean To Contest a Will?
If a sibling feels slighted from your parent’s will, they might quickly state that they are going to contest it out of fairness. The first thing to remember is that stating you will contest it is not the same as doing so. It is an expensive process. How does this work? A will, under probate law, can only be contested by a handful of people. These are:
Before anything can be contested, the offended party will need to contact the court to state that they believe there is a problem with this will. That said, just because someone might feel hurt or left out does not mean they will successfully get the will contested. There must be a legitimate legal reason to overturn someone’s last will and testament. An experienced will contest lawyer in King of Prussia, PA can evaluate your case and offer the best path forward.
Legal Reason For Contesting a Will
If you or a loved one is contesting a will, there are only four reasons that a court can recognize when contesting it. They are:
Mental Capacity. A common argument is that the testator (person signing the will) did not have the proper mental capacity needed to sign the will. It would be argued that your parent did not understand his or her assets, who the beneficiaries were, or what effect the will would have.
How It Is Signed And Witnessed. If the state’s requirements are met for this will, your parent signed it, and there are signatures of two witnesses, the will is legally binding. If something is missing from this list, there could be validity questions. A will contest law firm in King of Prussia, PA can offer more detailed guidance on your case.
If the Person Signing was Under the Influence. A will could be contested if the testator was influenced by a caretaker or other person at the time of signing.
Will Fraud. If the will was signed by your parent because of fraud (someone could have given them a piece of paper saying it was a bank document or healthcare paper when it was actually a will), then it is not legally binding.
Will Contest Lawyer King of Prussia, PA
Clearly, there are a few ways that a will can be contested. If you are going through a legal battle regarding the contestation of your parent’s will, having an attorney on your side from Klenk Law can help make this process smoother.
For any further questions or to get in touch with us, call (215) 790-1095 now. It’s best to consult with a will contest lawyer King of Prussia, PA to get your questions answered and have your case evaluated.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
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Flora Novick
Recently hired this firm to help me write a will (something I had been procrastinating on doing for too long). The process was quick, easy, painless and I'm glad that thanks to the great team at this firm I was able to cross this off my "to do" list!!
I've been through the process of creating and revising estate documents several times over the years and it's never been easier than it was with Peter Klenk. Always available and a master at explain arcane tax and legal issues in plain English for "dummies". I recommend the firm without reservation.
Peter offers excellent service in a easy friendly atmosphere. Highly recommended!
Extremely professional services with courteous, responsive communication. Would recommend to anyone.
Our experience with Klenk Law has been exceptional. We’ve had help with estate planning and pre-nuptial agreements. They really take the time to explain everything and let us know our options. All of the staff are very professional, courteous and knowledgeable. They are very prompt with responding to calls and messages. We will continue to use them and recommend to friends and family.
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