Contested Wills in Deerfield Beach, Florida

Find the right Contested Wills attorney in Deerfield Beach, FL

In Deerfield Beach, Florida, there is a process through which a person can challenge the validity of a will. This is recognized as a "contested will" or "will contest."

Occasionally, testators leave out of their wills people who might naturally expect to inherit a considerable portion of the testator's estate (spouses and children, for instance). This might lead them to assume, truthfully or not, that the will was some kind of mistake.

If the decedent was fairly well-off, their will might involve a great deal of money or property. This is one of the general reasons, besides a general sense of exclusion, that a family member might expend the great deal of time and money necessary to contest a will.

You should remember that a will contest commonly results in adversarial legal proceedings, which can be very combative. Considering the likelihood that other members of your family might be on the other side, it's clear that this can really damage a person's relationship with his or her family.

When Can a Will be Contested in Deerfield Beach, Florida?

There are many reasons that a court in Deerfield Beach, Florida might invalidate a will.

For instance, a will obtained through duress (a threat of harm, normally physical) is invalid. Of course, duress is very difficult to prove after the fact, and the issue may not even come up until many years after it allegedly occurred, making proof even more difficult. Nonetheless, if the named beneficiary was in some type of position of power or trust with respect to the decedent, and is not someone who one would normally expect to get a large gift in a will (they're unrelated to the testator, for example), those facts alone might be enough to raise the suspicion of impropriety. Of course, those facts by themselves are not enough to prove duress.

Another fact that might invalidate a will is the mental incompetence of the testator. Wills must be a product of a person's volition. A will cannot be honestly voluntary unless the testator knows what they're doing. Therefore, if the testator is mentally incompetent at the time he or she makes the will, the will cannot take effect. You should be aware, however, that this test applies at the time the will is made. So, if the testator is not mentally competent at the time of death, but was when the will was made, the will is valid.

There are many other facts that might make a will invalid, and therefore serve as grounds to contest a will. If a will is effectively contested in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and held to be invalid, this normally results in the property being distributed as if the decedent had died intestate (without a will). This means that it will usually go to the decedent's closest living relative.

Can a Deerfield Beach, Florida Contested Will Attorney Help?

Contesting a will is often hard, and never fun. However, the entire process can be made more bearable if you have the help of a reliable Deerfield Beach, Florida attorney, and the process will probably be much more manageable.

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

Life in Deerfield Beach

Welcome to Deerfield Beach, Florida-- a city known for its beachside charm. Located in Southern Florida, Deerfield is located north of popular Florida city, Miami. Deerfield Beach has a very tourist-oriented feel to it. The sunny Florida shores are another aspect that tourists enjoy in Deerfield.

Deerfield Beach's economy is as diverse as its population, specializing in manufacturing, distribution, and office industries. Deerfield has the ninth largest Brazilian population in the United States--a presence that is reflected in many of the local restaurants in Deerfield. Every year Deerfield Beach plays host to the Women's Professional Volleyball Association and the Superboat Power Race. Deerfield Beach is home to close to 80,000 residents and is located on Broward County, Florida.

Another notable aspect of Deerfield Beach is the amazing legal culture the community enjoys. Deerfield lawyers hail from all areas of the United States and their range of specialties is as diverse as they are. Lawyer in Deerfield are available to serve their clients in any legal issue they may find themselves confronted with. Deerfield Lawyers are highly skilled and Deerfield is lucky to have them!

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