Our Blog

“Undue Influence”: How to Prove a Will or Trust Was the Product of Coercion

March 5, 2026 Posted In Trust & Will Contests,Trust Disputes

By Colorado Estate Matters, Ltd.Updated March 5, 2026 When families suspect that a caregiver, new partner, or relative pressured an elder into signing a new will or changing a trust, Colorado law refers to the situation as undue influence. The key legal question is not whether influence existed—influence is normal in families. Instead, courts ask…

How to Contest a Will in Colorado: Grounds, Process, and Deadlines

February 26, 2026 Posted In Breach of Fiduciary Duty,Claims,Firm News,Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration,Trust & Will Contests,Trust Disputes

Navigate Colorado’s will contest process with confidence. Learn key deadlines and expert tips to successfully contest a will. Secure your rights today!

“They Weren’t Themselves”: Proving Lack of Capacity in a Lakewood Will Contest

January 12, 2026 Posted In Trust & Will Contests

When you read a loved one’s final will and the words on the page feel like they belong to a stranger, you likely feel suspicious. In Colorado, if the person who made the will (the testator) lacked the required mental ability, or testamentary capacity, at the moment they signed it, the document is not valid. …

The 4 Legal Grounds for Contesting a Will in Colorado

January 5, 2026 Posted In Trust & Will Contests

When a loved one passes, their Last Will and Testament is supposed to be a final expression of their wishes. But what happens when that document does not seem right? In Colorado, a will is presumed to be valid, and challenging it is a significant undertaking. Simply being left out or feeling the distribution is…

The Foundation of Your Plan: Do I Need a Will or a Living Trust in Colorado?

December 9, 2025 Posted In Trust & Will Contests

Choosing between a will and a trust in Colorado may feel confusing, especially when both documents seem to accomplish similar goals. Many Lakewood families find themselves unsure which option fits their situation or whether they need both. The right answer depends on your assets, family structure, and priorities. Understanding how each document works in Colorado…

Six Hidden Costs of Administering a Will

August 28, 2016 Posted In Asset Protection,Creditors and Probate,Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration,Trust & Will Contests,Wills

Six Hidden Costs of Administering a Will When it is time to settle an estate and administer a will, there may be some obvious costs like court filing fees and estate taxes that will need to be covered as you proceed. Those may not be the only costs, as there are common other, less obvious…

Five Warning Signs of Breach of Fiduciary Duties

October 15, 2015 Posted In Breach of Fiduciary Duty

“Know the warning signs of breach of fiduciary duty so you know when to take action & hold negligent fiduciaries accountable,” notes an estate planning lawyer in Denver. Fiduciaries, including personal representatives and the executors of wills, are bound to act with a certain level of care and prudence when it comes to administering a…

Four Helpful Tips for Executors & Personal Representatives Who Are Settling an Estate

September 15, 2015 Posted In Breach of Fiduciary Duty,Estate Planning,Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration

The process of settling an estate can be long, complicated and at times, contentious. While there can be a lot to do to settle an estate in the months following the death of a loved one. It is important to keep the following tips in mind can help those in charge, namely executors and personal…

Your Trustee Duties: Here Is What You Need to Know (Pt. 1)

November 25, 2014 Posted In Breach of Fiduciary Duty,Trust Administration,Trust Disputes,Trusts

Being a trustee is a big responsibility that comes with both ethical and administrative obligations. Although you do not have to have an attorney inform you of these obligations or help you comply with them. If you try to administer a trust on your own (especially when you may have some other significant obligations in…

Grounds for Contesting a Will (Pt. 2)

August 25, 2014 Posted In Estate Planning,Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration,Trust & Will Contests,Wills

Picking up from where Grounds for Contesting a Will (Pt. 1) left off, below, we continue our discussion regarding how people can legally challenge a will in order to try to get part or all of it rendered void. In addition to problems with how a will was executed and undue influence, another ground for…

Michael Jackson Estate Sued

November 7, 2013 Posted In Claims,Creditors and Probate,Estate Planning,Firm News,Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration,Trust & Will Contests

Colorado residents may have heard that Quincy Jones is filing a lawsuit against the estate of the late Michael Jackson. Jones claims that the estate owes him production fees and royalties for many of Jackson’s hits. According to the Jackson Estate, Jones worked with the pop singer for 35 years, and the man helped produce…

Death of Homeless Heir to $19M Fortune Adds to Family Drama

January 2, 2013 Posted In Claims,Firm News,Probate, Estate, & Trust Administration,Trust & Will Contests,Trust Disputes

Those familiar with the life of railroad heiress Huguette Clark might be interested to know that the drama surrounding her multimillion-dollar fortune has just taken another turn. A 60-year-old homeless man who was in line to receive a hefty portion of her estate, an estimated $19 million was found dead recently of hypothermia, adding another…