Contesting a Will – What you need to know
When someone passes away it can be a difficult time for everyone involved. This can be made harder if you’re concerned about your place in the Will of the deceased.
Who can contest a Will?
People have Wills to ensure that once they pass away, they have a say in how their assets are shared amongst the people in their life. While the wishes of people after they pass away in most cases enforced by the Courts, there are some cases when a Will needs to be contested because it may treat a family member of the deceased unfairly or fails to provide for them at all.
People who can contest a Will include the children, spouse or other family members of the deceased. If you are not related to the deceased, you may still be able to contest the Will if you can show that you had a close and meaningful relationship with the deceased that would create the expectation that you should have been included in the Will.
There are different rules that apply to each State and Territory in Australia, so it is important to get advice that is relevant to your jurisdiction.
When might I need to contest a Will?
There are many reasons why you may need to contest a Will after someone has passed away.
I think I need to contest a Will, what can I do?
If you think that a Will fails to provide for you, doesn’t reflect the deceased’s wishes or has not being executed properly, it’s important that you get some professional advice as to how to go about achieving a fair outcome for you, the deceased and everyone involved.
If you need Advice or want to speak to someone about contesting a Will, get in touch with our experienced Wills and Estates team today on 1300 584 626.
No win No fee
We make it easy for you
Achieving great outcomes for clients
Free Personal Injury Case assessment
Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19