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 contesting a will is:

When you need assistance contesting a will or developing air-tight will, contact the Denver will and estate planning lawyers at Colorado Estate Matters, Ltd.

3.  Mental Incapacity

With this ground for contesting a will, the claim will be that the decedent lacked the cognitive capabilities to develop and/or execute a will. Specifically, there has to be proof that the decedent:

• Did not understand the value or nature of the property discussed in the will
• Was not aware of who the beneficiaries are
• Did not comprehend what it meant to develop a will.

In many cases, mental incapacity can mean that the decedent was battling some type of impairment like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. It could also specifically mean that a person was legally insane or under the influence of powerful narcotics when the will was developed.

Of all the grounds for contesting a will, claims of mental incapacity are usually the most successful, especially when they are initiated by a surviving spouse.

Final Thoughts on Contesting a Will…

If you are considering contesting a will, it is also important that you realize that:

• You must be an “interested party” in order to contest a will. In other words, you have to be a beneficiary of the current will or some previous version of the will (and not just some friend or acquaintance of the decedent who is not mentioned whatsoever in any version of the will).
• You must have one of the grounds discussed thus far in order to initiate will contest proceedings. In other words, you can’t simply contest a will because you think it’s unfair or you don’t like the way it distributes a decedent’s assets.

Denver Will Contest and Estate Planning Attorneys at Colorado Estate Matters, Ltd.

Do you need help contesting a will? Or do you need assistance developing a will that will not leave any room for challenges after your passing?  If so, you can turn to the will contest and estate planning lawyers at Colorado Estate Matters, Ltd. We provide a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to our clients’ various legal needs, and we can help them effective contest wills that may be fraudulent or invalid.

Our goal is to help our clients efficiently navigate the complexities of the law so they can develop effective, prudent solutions that will protect them, their assets and their families in the future.

Contact Us Today

We can discuss your estate planning needs and different options during our consultation. To schedule this meeting, call us at (303) 713-9147 or email us using the contact form at the top of this page.

From our offices in Denver, we serve clients throughout the southwest and southeast Metro Area, including (but not limited to) people in Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Castle Rock, Parker, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Englewood, Centennial, Wheat Ridge, Golden and Arvada.