Contested Wills in Pueblo, Colorado

Find the right Contested Wills attorney in Pueblo, CO

In Pueblo, Colorado, there is a process through which a person can challenge the validity of a will. This is identified as a "contested will" or "will contest."

There are various 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 considerable amount of money or property is being given away, the person left out of the will could rationally conclude that the cost and time of a court challenge is worth it.

Like any legal matter, however, this should not be taken lightly. Will contests can foster conflict and strife within families who are already mourning a loved one. This can cause grave and irreversible damage to family relationships.

When Can a Will be Contested in Pueblo, Colorado?

A court in Pueblo, Colorado will not entertain a will contest unless there is a very good reason to do so. But, there are some allegations which, if shown, clearly invalidate a will.

One big reason to invalidate a will is the fact that the will was made under duress. "Duress" simply means forcing somebody to do something they don't want to, using some kind of threat. Typically, the threat involves some type of physical harm. The most obvious example would involve putting a gun to somebody's head and telling them to write a will containing the terms desired by the gunman. Such a will, assuming the underlying facts can be proven in court, will never be valid. Of course, the validity of a will rarely becomes an issue until the testator has died, which may be years after the will was drafted. This means that proving the circumstances under which the will was made can often be very difficult. However, there are certain facts, such as the devise being to an "unnatural" beneficiary (somebody the testator didn't know very well, for instance), and the beneficiary being in a position of power over the decedent, are enough to at least create a suspicion that something is wrong.

Another thing to consider is the mental capacity of the person making the will. If, at the time the will was made, the testator was insane or heavily intoxicated, the will is likely to be held invalid by a court, if the underlying facts can be shown.

If a Pueblo, Colorado will is successfully challenged and thus invalidated, there has to be some system for orderly distribution of the decedent's property. Typically, 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 Pueblo, Colorado Contested Will Attorney Help?

Contesting a will is often challenging, and never fun. However, the entire process can be made more bearable if you have the help of a knowledgeable Pueblo, Colorado attorney, and the process will probably be much more manageable.

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

Life in Pueblo

Pueblo is located Colorado and is the county seat for Pueblo County. It has a population of about 107,000 people and is situated near the Arkansas River. Pueblo, Colorado is a "Home Rule" or self-governing municipality. It is located in what is known as the "banana belt" region in Colorado. This region has much warmer climate than most of Colorado, with significantly less amounts of snow fall. As one of America's top producers of steel, Pueblo is often known as "the Steel City". The Federal Citizen Information Center is also located in Pueblo, Colorado and is one of the city's top employers. Pueblo is also considered Colorado's best location for solar energy and is an ideal location for solar power companies. The city is also called the "Home of Heroes", as a number of Medal of Honor recipients are from Pueblo.

Attractions in Pueblo, Colorado include the Rosemount Museum, the Pueblo Zoo, and Pueblo Motorsports Park. Recreational activities are abundant in Pueblo, with opportunities for disc golf, aquatics classes, and senior activities. Pueblo also has an extensive trail system that allows people to experience the region's lush outdoor environment. Other favorites include Friday Art Walks and downtown shopping.

Pueblo lawyers offer a variety of legal services and typically file their claims at the Pueblo Municipal Court. The Court has expanded its use of technology and computers to enhance its efficiency. Lawyers in Pueblo, Colorado are an important part of the city's social and communal life.

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