Contested Wills in Phoenix, Arizona

Find the right Contested Wills attorney in Phoenix, AZ

In Phoenix, Arizona, there is a procedure through which a person can challenge the validity of a will. This is identified as a "contested will" or "will contest."

A will is typically contested when a family member who expected to inherit a large amount of money or property are disappointed with the contents of the will, especially if the testator's motives are not clear. They will often assume that the will must be a forgery, or a result of fraud or force.

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

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 Phoenix, Arizona?

There are various reasons that a court in Phoenix, Arizona might invalidate a will.

For example, a will obtained through duress (a threat of harm, typically 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. However, 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 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 severely intoxicated, the will is likely to be held invalid by a court, if the underlying facts can be proven.

So, you've succeeded in contesting the validity of a Phoenix, Arizona will. What happens to the property that was going to be distributed according to its terms? Usually, when a will is declared void, the decedent's assets will be treated as if he or she had died without a will. This is known as "intestacy." Typically, this simply means that the assets will be passed on to their owner's closest living relative, normally a spouse, children, siblings, or parents. If absolutely no relatives can be found, the property is passed to the state. If there is a previous will, which was revoked by the invalid will, a court might revive the old will. If the new will was found to be completely invalid (rather than just parts of it), it follows, then, that the revocation of the old will is invalid as well. Consequently, the old will can be given effect.

Can a Phoenix, Arizona Contested Will Attorney Help?

Because a will contest can sometimes involve complicated legal and factual questions, as well as some very raw emotions, a skilled Phoenix, Arizona attorney can be invaluable in helping this process go as smoothly as possible.

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

Life in Phoenix

It is in Phoenix, Arizona that one can find the "Jewel of the Desert." The Arizona Biltmore Resort Spa is known all over the world for its gorgeous 39 acre property. In fact, celebrities, U.S. Presidents and millions of tourists stay at this wonderful resort.

Phoenix has much more to offer its tourists alongside the beautiful Biltmore. Some popular attractions include the Arizona Science Center, Camelback Mountain, Castles n' Coasters, Chase Field, Encanto Park, and Orpheum Theatre. Phoenix offers a mix array of attractions ranging from those displaying the beautiful desert and Mother Nature, as well as those with a modern, metropolitan touch.

Phoenix being the industrial hub of Arizona is home to many large, mid-size, and small boutique law firms. In fact, the University of Arizona is a top law school that produces great legal minds every year. Therefore, Phoenix citizens can rest assure because any of their legal needs can easily be taken care of.

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