Southwest Florida

Is a Will Contest Worth It?

A Will contest can be expensive and ugly.
Is contesting a Will worth the effort, money, and time? Are you willing to destroy your relationships with those you bring to court?

Is contesting a Will worth the effort, money, and time? This question comes up more frequently than you’d think. The desire to sue an estate sometimes is the result of an unpleasant shock, and at other times, it’s due to anger. However, according to this article from Forbes, “5 Things You Should Know About Contesting A Will,” before you start making revenge plans or hiring the most tenacious attorney in town, take a deep breath. You need to consider some cold hard facts:

  1. Litigation is expensive. I’m going to repeat that again: Litigation is expensive!! Many people will ask if an attorney will take the case on a contingency fee basis—typically a third of what you receive, and he or she only gets paid if you do. Most probate litigation attorneys won’t take a Will contest case on a contingency fee basis because there’s a pretty good risk they won’t get paid. If they do take the case, make sure you have a litigation attorney with experience in estate battles.
  2. Have lots of Rolaids on hand. You’re gonna need them. A Will Contest lawsuit is a rough journey; one that can be full of lies, misrepresentations, and accusations. There may also be a counter lawsuit against you. You’ll probably be interrogated in a deposition, where the opposing lawyer will ask you questions about your relationship with the deceased person and with the other beneficiaries. You will likely be portrayed as greedy, and you may have to testify in court.
  3. Snap decisions are required. Once you hire your attorney, he or she will work with you to develop a strategy for the case. Your attorney may recommend that you file suit immediately and be the first one to the courthouse. Or your counsel may think it best to send a letter to the attorney representing the person you’re suing with a request for information. Then, depending the response, you may decide to file suit. In most cases, you’ll have a limited time to contest the Will. If you don’t do so within that time period, you can’t ever bring a lawsuit. Talk to an experienced attorney shortly after the death.
  4. You’ll probably reach a settlement. Once the Will Contest litigation has begun and the attorneys have had time to exchange information and do some fact finding (in what is known as the discovery process), your attorney will talk to you about the strengths and weaknesses of your case. It may be appropriate at that juncture for one side to present the other with a settlement offer. This would end the litigation without the time and expense of trial. This may be a wise option if you’re tired of fighting and willing to consider a settlement instead of going to trial. Your attorney may also point out weaknesses in your case and advise you to be happy with getting a settlement. That way you can move on with your life. You should approach the settlement like a business decision, and try to keep emotion out of it.
  5. Expect emotional pain. While you may get some satisfaction if you win, you will destroy your relationships with the people you bring to court. If you lose, well, that’s a lose-lose proposition. No matter how big the win, all the underlying emotional issues will still be with you.

Reference: Forbes (May 21, 2018) “5 Things You Should Know About Contesting A Will”

Other articles you may find interesting: 

‘Bye Bye Love’ Rocker Ric Ocasek Cuts Wife Out of Will

Demystifying Probate

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