Some people don’t feel comfortable discussing their estate plan with their loved ones. Sometimes it’s the loved ones who don’t want to talk about a time when their parents or other older relatives won’t be around. This is how people end up inheriting things they don’t...
When a loved one dies, their estate is usually managed by an executor appointed in the deceased’s will. The executor’s role is to distribute the estate assets according to the deceased’s wishes and in compliance with state law. However, suppose the executor is found...
If you have lost a loved one and were caught off-guard by changes in their will, you may be wondering if it’s worth trying to contest the will. When a will isn’t what you remember or what you were told it would be, it makes sense to have questions and to investigate...
Will contests are expensive and can cause a disruption to the family involved. Probate laws limit the circumstances in which a family member or beneficiary can contest someone's last wishes. Feeling shocked or dissatisfied with the terms your loved one has in their...
Most people create their last will long before they die. They may even have a collection of documents in a comprehensive estate plan. The people left behind when someone dies can review their last will to learn their wishes. After filing the document with probate...
When someone dies, the probate courts have the authority to oversee the administration of their estate. Massachusetts probate laws guide how people plan their estates and how executors carry out their last wishes. Most of the time, testators make plans that aim to...
At the heart of any will contest is the idea that the deceased's will is somehow invalid. The grounds for that thought vary, including things like undue influence, lack of mental capacity or a fraudulent signature. However, don’t assume that these are the only...
When you drafted your will, your attorney likely told you that it will be necessary to update it when there are changes to your family or your assets that impact the will’s provisions. This could include marriage, divorce, a new child, the death of your chosen...
If you wish to contest a will in Massachusetts, you need to be what is called an interested person. It usually means family, those previously named as beneficiaries in the deceased's will or creditors. These are some of the reasons you may contest a will: It was not...
