Each state has different laws concerning probate and last will and testaments. The law allows anyone who has a claim against someone else to challenge an existing will. This means that they can ask a court to decide whether the person died intestate (without leaving a valid will). If you have been left out of a family member's will, then you can contest the will. In this article, we will go into further detail on what grounds can a will be contested.
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What Makes A Will Void?
Contesting a will is a complex legal matter that requires careful consideration. There are several ways in which a will can be challenged. For example, a beneficiary may argue that the testator was undue to influence at the time of signing the will. Alternatively, an executor could argue that the deceased did not have the mental capacity when he/she signed the will. In addition, a third party could argue that the will should be set aside because it was fraudulently made.
In order for a will to be contested, there must be some reason for doing so. The most common grounds on which people contest wills are:
Undue influence - if a person signs a will while being subject to undue influence, this invalidates the will and the person does not die intestate.
Mental incapacity - if a person lacks mental capacity to make a will, this also invalidates the will and causes the person to die intestate.
You need to show that the will was unfair or unjust. The courts will look at all the circumstances surrounding the making of the will. They will consider how much control the testator had over his affairs, whether he was suffering from illness or stress, and whether he was pressured into making the will. Also, they will make sure that the will was created and signed following the appropriate state laws.
Who Can Challenge A Will?
Anybody can contest a will, including family members. You don't even need to be related to the person whose will you want to contest. Some people think that only relatives can contest a will. In fact, anyone can challenge a will. There are many reasons why someone might want to challenge a will:
They believe that the person who made the document didn't understand its contents.
They believe that the document wasn't signed properly.
They believe that a clause in the document is unfair or unjust.
They believe that another person has unduly influenced the person who wrote the document.
They believe that someone else was promised something under the document but hasn't received it yet.
They believe that their rights were violated because the person who made the decision didn't give them an opportunity to speak before making the decision.
They believe that other things were left out of the document.
Can A Next Of Kin Contest A Will If They Are Excluded?
If you are excluded from the will, you can still contest it. Your right to contest the will does not depend upon being named in the will. You need to have evidence that the person who made the will meant to include you or their will is invalid.
If you had a conversation with the testator/deceased about any inheritance before they died, then you should write down as much as you can. You could then use that as evidence. However, if you don't have any other proof, then you don't have much standing to contest the will.
If family members contest a will, then this can cause friction among the family. As a result, you need to make sure that you are certain that the will is invalid before you start disputing it and going through the courts. As this is also a very expensive and time-consuming process as well.
On What Grounds Can A Will Be Contested?
To challenge a will, you first need to find out if the person died intestate. If he did, you can ask the Probate Court to hear your case. If he did not, you can ask the court to declare him to have died intestate.
The probate court is responsible for deciding whether a person died intestate. To do this, the court needs to know the date of the person's death. This is normally done by looking at the date on the last page of the will. If the date is missing, the court will take the date of birth and add 30 years to it. This gives them enough time to pass away. The court will then check the date of death against the date of birth. If the dates match up, the person died intestate; otherwise, they died with a will.
Once the court knows whether the person had a will, they will send you a letter telling you what steps you need to take next.
What Happens If My Will Is Challenged?
If the person who challenges your will wins, then the will is overturned and the person dies intestate. If the person who challenges your wishes loses, then the will stands and the person dies with a will.
If the person who contests your will doesn't win, then the will stands until the end of the probate period. At the end of the probation period, the will becomes final.
How Long Does It Take To Prove That A Person Died Intestate?
It depends on where you live. Some states require proof within six months of the person's death; others may allow you two years.
In some states, there are strict rules about when you must file documents in order to prove that a person died intestate (without a will). In these states, you usually have to file the papers within three months after the person's death.
You also need to make sure that you follow the correct procedures. For example, in California, you must notify the executor of the estate within 10 days of filing the petition.
Creating An Online Will
Creating a will online is really easy and simple. It is also one of the safest ways to create a will. Sites like wills.com, help you to create a will within 15 minutes that adhere to all your state laws. However, alongside this, will.com takes you step by step to create your will easily, and you can sign your will online as well. You can sign your will online and this then makes your will valid. Then you can go back and adjust your will at any time when you want to change anything.
Use Wills.com To Create Your Legal Will
A will is an important document that allows you to leave your assets to the right people. However, after your death, anyone is able to contest the will if they believe that the will is invalid and wasn't created in the right and legal ways. For someone to contest a will they need to prove that the deceased wasn't of sound mind or the will was made in a fraudulent way.
We hope this article has given you an insight in what grounds you can contest a will if you believe it to be invalid.