Amid the Grief and stress of a passing, it is common for disputes to arise between family members. Disagreement between siblings, cousins, step-relatives, parents, aunts, uncles, and others can erupt often centering on a provision in a will or trust. The feuding often spills into the courtroom, with one party challenging a will, trust, or other aspects of the estate planning process.
Residents that fall within Mahoning, Trumbull, Summit, and Portage Counties can find themselves embroiled in these legal battles. Contested Estates can include:
- Disagreements among Family Members
- Family Feuding over Estate Assets
- Disagreements on Inheritance
- Contesting a Will or a Trust Estate Planning – Contested Estates Cortland OHThe four most common legal grounds for contesting a will or trust include:
- Undue Influence: One child exerts undue influence on a parent in order to take a bigger share of the estate. For example, a son threatens to put his mother in a nursing home unless she leaves a bigger share of the estate to him.
- Incompetence: If the person making the will or trust was not of sound mind, or did not understand the meaning of the document, then its validity is questionable.
- Fraud: If a person makes a will or trust based on lies or deception, the document is invalid. For example, a daughter falsely tells her parent that her brother is engaging in criminal activity.
- Ambiguous Language: The meaning of a provision is unclear, or it can be interpreted in different ways.
The Law Office of John C. Grundy handles contested estates throughout NE Ohio. We service Trumbull, Summit, Portage, and Mahoning County. If you or a loved one needs legal counsel regarding a contested estate please contact our office today, at 330-637-9030 for a no-cost case evaluation.