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 […]

Does Affection and Close Attachment Equal Undue Influence? The Caretaker vs the Cousins

| August 19, 2015

Under Florida law, there are protections in place to keep people with bad intentions from manipulating someone into devising or gifting all or a portion of their estate to the bad actor. If someone’s Last Will And Testament is proven to have been hijacked by “undue influence” then that Will can be voided by a Florida […]

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: 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 […]

Challenging an Inheritance in Florida: Meeting the In Re Carpenter Factors in a Florida Will Contest

| May 12, 2015

Today, Florida Statute 733.107 has been passed to override part of the Florida Supreme Court’s decision back in 1971, when the famous (at least in legal circles) case came down: In re Estate of Carpenter, 253 So.2d 697 (Fla. 1971).  The Florida Legislature can pass laws that block what the Highest Court in the State […]

Can a Trust Be Created By a Florida Judge to Remedy Wrongdoing Related to a Decedent’s Property?

| May 6, 2014

Ask most people what a “trust” is all about, legally-speaking, and they’ll probably describe some form of estate planning tool that goes along with a Last Will and Testament and/or a Life Insurance Policy. This answer isn’t wrong: lawyers draft trust documents all the time, where property is placed into “trust” for loved ones (”beneficiaries”). […]