Contested Wills in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

Find the right Contested Wills attorney in Inver Grove Heights, MN

In Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota there are certain procedures allowing certain people to challenge the validity of a will. This is known as a "will contest" or "contested will."

Sometimes, testators leave out of their wills people who might normally expect to inherit a large portion of the testator's estate (spouses, for instance). This might lead them to assume, correctly or not, that the will was a mistake.

If a large amount of money is involved, someone who was left out of a will, or not given what they were expecting, might believe that contesting the will is worth the time, money, and energy that doing so would require.

As with the initiation of any other legal proceeding, contesting a will is a big decision. It can be time-consuming and expensivee. It also has the possibility to damage family relationships and foster strife among people who are already mourning the loss of a loved one.

When Can a Will be Contested in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota?

There are several reasons that a court in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota might 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. Usually, 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 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 truly voluntary unless the testator knows what they're doing. Accordingly, 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 thus serve as grounds to contest a will. If a will is successfully contested in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, and held to be invalid, this usually 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 Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota Contested Will Attorney Help?

Contesting a will is never particularly easy or enjoyable. However, a good Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota 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 Inver Grove Heights

The charming city of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota was founded in 1827 and has been booming ever since. Early pioneers to the area were attracted to Inver Grove Heights ideal location near the Mississippi River as well as its lush landscape. Inver Grove Heights was originally settled by Irish and German immigrants, and is now home to a wide-range of ancestries.

Inver Grove Heights is now home to close to 44,000 residents. The Minnesota city has over 28 square miles of rolling hills and enjoys great weather year round. Inver Grove Heights is also home to some of Minnesota's top golf courses. The sporty spirit is in the air in this city!

Inver Grove Heights has wonderful lawyers, business opportunities, housing, schools, and overall ambience. The many lawyers in Inver Grove Heights has helped create the thriving legal community in the city.

Every fall there is an Inver Grove Heights Day that includes a parade, fireworks display, street dancing, and various sporting activities. The family friendly affair is just one example of the amazing community spirit that Inver Grove Heights has cultivated over the years.

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