At What Point Should You Consider Hiring an Estate Litigation Lawyer?

29 August 2022
 Categories: Law, Blog

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Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things that may happen to you. You may experience a period of uncertainty, mainly if there are unresolved estate issues. In fact, you could still experience issues even when a trust or will is in place. As you grieve and mourn, estate issues could strain your relationship with the other family members, making life hard on your side.

For this reason, it's important to act first and protect your rights before someone else compromises them. Unfortunately, most people don't know what to do when they have estate issues to resolve after the death of a loved one. In this case, you should look for a seasoned estate litigation lawyer to help you because they can easily navigate a challenging situation. But at what point should you consider hiring one? Keep reading!

You Have an Issue with the Trustee or Administrator

Most trustees and administrators are honest and do whatever the deceased instructed them to do. However, some could somehow be dishonest with the estate matters. As a result, they may mismanage the estate and violate some other legal obligations. This happens when they overlook the interest of the beneficiaries and focus on theirs, against your loved one's wishes. They may want to take away some valuable assets, leaving you with less than what you should have received. They could also fail to pay taxes in good time and ignore other valid claims. If you notice that the administrator or trustee is not honest with the estate affairs, you should seek help from a reputable estate litigation lawyer.

Another Beneficiary Is Challenging the Estate

Some beneficiaries will not be content with what they get. Of course,  the estate owner decides what each beneficiary will get out of their own volition. However, someone may challenge the will, especially if they feel that you or another beneficiary got something better. So if they are filing a case to challenge your inheritance, you should seek legal help. In this case, you should hire an estate litigation lawyer to represent you and defend your rights. The lawyer helps simplify the litigation process by resolving disputes more amicably.

You Notice Sudden Changes to the Estate Documents

Most people definitely outline their wishes or indicate what they wish happens to their estate after death. However, someone may want to interfere with their good intentions to satisfy their selfish interests. They may interfere with the estate documents to ensure the assets bear their name. Any unexpected or sudden changes to the estate documents are a sign of danger. For instance, you may notice that the trust or will has been amended or forged. So what should you do? You should hire a local estate litigation lawyer to deal with the problem before things get worse.