Contested Wills in Palmdale, California

Find the right Contested Wills attorney in Palmdale, CA

In Palmdale, California, there is a procedure through which a person can challenge the validity of a will. This is recognized as a "contested will" or "will contest."

There are several reasons why a person might want to contest a will made by a close family member. Sometimes, people will decide to leave money or property to charity, or to other entities who are not closely related. If their family members weren't expecting this, they might assume that something went wrong with the drafting of the will.

If a lot of money, or some particularly valuable property, is at stake, the person who was left out might want to go to court and allege that the will was invalid. When left out of a will, a family member might naturally assume that some kind of mistake has been made, whether this is really true or not.

However, this is a matter that should not be approached lightly - will contests can commonly foster strife and infighting within families who are already mourning the loss of a loved one. This can permanently damage or alter family relationships.

When Can a Will be Contested in Palmdale, California?

Courts in Palmdale, California will not let a person contest a will unless they have an excellent reason. There are, however, some allegations which will always invalidate a will, if they are proven.

To be valid, a will must be a product of the testator's own free will. So, a will that the testator was forced or tricked into making is not valid, if the probate court finds out about the duress or trickery. Of course, wills are usually made many years before a person dies, so how can a person expect to prove duress or fraud if they suspect it? To begin with, it's not easy. It is possible, however. First of all, it's good to have as much documentation of the testator's affairs as possible. Any written statements concerning their desires on this matter will also be very useful, if there are any. Further, if the suspect gift is totally out of left field (property is left to someone that you know the testator didn't like, or barely knew, for instance), this might also support your position that the will was invalid. Of course, the testator can leave his or her money to whomever they want, so these facts, by themselves, will not be enough to prove fraud or duress.

Another reason why a will might be invalid is the maker of the will being mentally incompetent at the time the will was made. In order to make a valid will, the person making it must have enough of his or her mental faculties to understand what they're doing, and the consequences of it.

If a Palmdale, California will is successfully challenged and therefore invalidated, there has to be some system for orderly distribution of the decedent's property. Normally, if a will is held invalid, all of the property will be treated as if the decedent had never written or will. This means that it goes to the decedent's closest living relative, or, if there are not relatives who can be located, the state.

Can a Palmdale, California Contested Will Attorney Help?

Contesting a will is never particularly easy or enjoyable. However, a brilliant Palmdale, California attorney can help take some of the burden off of you, and handle some of the most difficult aspects of this process.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Palmdale

Palmdale, California is a thriving and expanding city with a population of about 153,000 people. It is situated in the northern area of Los Angeles, California. Palmdale is locally known as a commuter and family-oriented community, and boasts a high quality of life due to revitalization projects. The city is nicknamed the "Aerospace capital of the U.S.", on account of the many aerospace companies that are active there.

In particular, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman (both aerospace companies) are the largest employers in Palmdale, California. Many other types of manufacturing companies have relocated to the city due to special zoning laws for businesses. Special economic zones in Palmdale offer state and federal tax breaks to businesses that relocate to the city.

Palmdale, California is also home to many local sites of interest. For example, Antelope Valley Mall is located in the city and houses a shopping space of over 1 million square feet. The Palmdale Amphitheater seats 10,000 people and is the site for the summer event, "Starlight Concert Series". Palmdale residents also enjoy visiting the Rancho Vista Golf Course, which is a PGA-class golf facility.

Lawyers in Palmdale, California have experience in a variety of legal matters. Palmdale lawyers are available to address the individual needs of their clients. Palmdale lawyers can also provide assistance with the unique laws that regulate the area.

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