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Contested Wills / Probate

New York City | Midtown Manhattan | Long Island

Will contests typically occur when there are grounds for doubting the authenticity of a will. Here, there may be allegations that the deceased was manipulated into changing their will or did not have the mental capacity to create or finalize a will in the first place. When allegations of undue influence or mental capacity arise, the deceased’s medical records, handwriting samples, oral promises, financial activities (if any), and behavior become important. Carefully creating a timeline and investigating what happened is essential in establishing undue influence or lack of mental capacity.

At the New York estate litigation law office of Leeds Brown Law, P.C., Lenard Leeds has establish a strong reputation for cutting-edge estate litigation representation involving will contests and probate litigation. If you believe your loved one’s will was tampered with or he or she was a victim of unscrupulous caregivers or family members, contact will contest attorney link to Contact Us Lenard Leeds today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case.

Contesting a Will

An heir may need to file a lawsuit contesting a will for several reasons. Typically, the first indication that something is wrong with a will strange, unusual wishes that are inconsistent with the known wishes of the deceased. As a result, heirs may find themselves confused and wondering what they can do to contest a will that is uncharacteristic of their loved one’s wishes.

Here, a careful review of existing documents, versions of a will, and medical records may reveal one or more of the following grounds for contesting a will:

  • The will does not conform to New York legal requirements.
  • Inheritances are uneven or relatives are excluded.
  • Evidence of fraud or undue influence exist.
  • The probate process was handled improperly.
  • Assets of a trust are not protected by the administrator.
  • Assets were accounted improperly.
  • A second will was forged.

Wills & Litigation

If a will was never updated and therefore does not include all of the heirs or does not accurately reflect the intent of the creator of the will, litigation may be necessary. A ‘no contest’ clause, which states that a beneficiary who unsuccessfully contests the will is disinherited, may have been included in the will in an attempt to exclude an heir from his or her rightful share of the estate. You need to carefully review your claims with a lawyer to determine whether they are the basis for a successful will contest.

Contested Probate Matters & Litigation

If you believe the executor is managing the probate or trust action improperly, contact a lawyer as soon as possible, before the executor depletes the assets. The wills & probate litigation lawyers at Leeds Brown Law, P.C. have decades of experience handling contested probate matters for clients in New York. We litigate contested probate matters and defend our clients’ inheritance rights aggressively.

For assistance, contact an experienced wills & probate litigation lawyers at Leeds Brown Law, P.C., representing clients throughout the New York City metropolitan area, including Manhattan, Wall Street and Minneola. Call Us at 1-800-585-4658 or 1-516-873-9550.