Challenging A Forged Last Will And Testament: Handwriting Experts Vs Eyewitnesses in Will Contests

| October 21, 2015

It should go without saying, but a Last Will and Testament has to be signed by the person making the will in order for the will to be effective — an unsigned will isn’t valid in Florida. In fact, Florida Statute 732.502 requires the following for a will to be valid here: Execution of wills.—Every […]

What Happens When A Will Has Been Destroyed?

| September 30, 2015

A will contest is a lawsuit that happens when a beneficiary challenges a Last Will and Testament that has been presented to the probate court for the purpose of administrating a decedent’s estate. Essentially, one will has been offered for probate, and another party contends that the will offered is not valid or otherwise should not […]

Will Contest for Undue Influence of a Husband or Wife: Two Brides, Two Results

| September 9, 2015

So far in our Summer series on undue influence cases in Florida probate courts, we have discussed at length: how to identify when a family member or loved one may have been unduly influenced in executing their will; just how much influence is necessary to constitute “undue” influence, and form the basis for a successful will […]

Is Cutting Family Out of a Will Evidence of Undue Influence?: Religious Sect as Major Beneficiary

| September 2, 2015

If a decedent’s children, parents, or siblings are seriously concerned that their family member was victimized and that otherwise they would have inherited his estate, then they may have a basis for filing a will contest on undue influence grounds. See, Watts v. Newport, 149 Fla. 181, 6 So.2d 829 (1941). What is Undue Influence when […]

Undue Influence Revealed By Helping Drafting or Execution of the Will: The Grandmother’s Birthday Party Will

| August 26, 2015

When a loved one passes away and their Last Will and Testament is entered into probate, the grieving family members sometimes know in advance who stands to inherit from the estate. Parents, for example, generally share their estate planning directives and decisions with their children. Brothers and sisters are aware of arrangements, such as how […]

Undue Influence Cases: Proving the Existence of a Confidential Relationship

| August 5, 2015

In cases of undue influence, it is alleged that someone (a tortfeasor) has taken advantage of someone else (a testator — one who executes a Will or other estate planning document) to get themselves written into the testator’s estate plan, potentially procuring tremendous sums of money, properties, and other items.  It is something that the testator […]

When Does Influence Become UNDUE and WRONG and The Basis for Voiding a Will?

| July 29, 2015

Your mother or father might be influenced in making their estate planning decisions by information that they get from their lawyer, or their CPA, or their friends. Your brothers or sisters may throw their two cents into the decision-making about how things should be be distributed after both parents pass away. Your elderly parent may […]

3 Signs that Mom or Dad Were Unduly Influenced in Executing Their Last Will and Testament

| July 22, 2015

After your mother or father passes away, it’s difficult enough to deal with your grief over their passing. Losing a parent is a life-altering event. For some, however, things get worse and the emotional burden becomes almost overwhelming when they learn about their parent’s Last Will and Testament. An unequal distribution of their parent’s property […]

Will Contests Based Upon Mistakes in Drafting the Will

| July 15, 2015

Usually, people hire lawyers to have their Last Will and Testament prepared and executed as a protection against errors in writing their Will and against anyone challenging their decisions about who should get what after they’ve passed. Parents know their kids: getting a Will written may mean a lot less squabbling when the time comes […]

Will Contests: Challenging a Florida Will to Get It Thrown Out

| July 8, 2015

When someone passes away, any property titled in their name immediately becomes part of their “estate.” An estate is a legal entity created under the law to help protect both real estate and personal property (things like jewelry, furniture, guns, etc.) as it is transferred to those who stand to inherit it. If the person […]