Few legal battles are as emotionally charged as contested estate matters. On top of the pain of losing a loved one, disagreements over their estate can quickly turn a time of mourning into a conflict that can strain family relationships, create financial uncertainty, and prolong an already difficult healing process.
When an estate is contested, financial futures, family harmony, and the deceased loved one’s legacy are all on the line. When navigating a will or trust dispute, having a skilled and compassionate estate attorney by your side is critical. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our Richmond, Virginia estate attorneys are here to help you navigate the landscape of Virginia estate law, protecting your rights and working toward a resolution that honors your loved one’s wishes.
When Can an Estate Be Contested?
While the intention behind a will or trust is to provide clarity and fairness, disputes can arise for many reasons, the most common of which revolve around the validity of a will or the administration of the estate.
Questions About the Validity of the Will
One of the most common reasons for contesting an estate stems from doubts over the will’s validity. Questions can arise over
- The loved one’s mental capacity and whether their judgment was clouded by age, illness, or cognitive conditions like dementia
- Failure to meet legal formalities that make the will valid
- Allegations of undue influence where someone close to the deceased loved one, such as a caregiver or relative, may have pressured or manipulated them into altering the will for their own benefit
- Concerns over fraud or forgery where the deceased may have been tricked into signing something they did not fully understand or their signature falsified
- Ambiguous or contradictory language in the documents creating uncertainty over the loved one’s true intentions
- Changes made to the estate plan later in life, especially when they disproportionately benefit one individual
- Provisions in the will that conflict with the surviving spouse’s rights to a share of the estate
- Previously unknown heirs or creditors coming forward to assert a right to a share of the estate
- The discovery of multiple wills and a dispute over which takes precedence
Estate contests are not just limited to disputes over wills. Trusts can also be a source of contention, with concerns over validity, mismanagement of assets, or disagreement over terms. Trustees have a fiduciary obligation to act in the beneficiaries’ best interests and a breach of this duty can result in legal challenges. Furthermore, disputes can also arise over beneficiary designations for retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or other payable-on-death accounts.
Who Can Contest a Will in Virginia?
Not everyone has the right to challenge a will in Virginia. State law restricts contesting a will to only those considered “interested parties.” An interested party is someone with a direct and substantial interest in the estate, typically including the following individuals.
- Beneficiaries named in the will
Anyone who is explicitly named in the will and already set to inherit assets has standing to contest it if they believe it is invalid or improperly executed. - Beneficiaries named in a prior will
If a new will has changed or eliminated provisions made for an individual named in a previous will, that person could potentially contest the validity of the new will. - Heirs-at-law
Heirs-at-law are those heirs who would inherit under Virginia’s intestacy laws, such as spouses, children, or, in some cases, parents or siblings. - Creditors
While creditors cannot challenge the validity of a will, they have the right to collect debts from the estate.
What Circumstances Commonly Lead to Will Contests?
Circumstances that lead to will contests are as varied as families themselves. The most common reasons are exclusion or a reduction in inheritance. Favoritism and feelings of unequal treatment without justification also spark disputes. However, feeling left out isn’t a valid reason to legally contest a will or trust. Interested parties must present a legitimate legal basis for their estate challenge and evidence to support it.
Statute of Limitations
There is a time limit for contesting a will, which is generally one year from the date the will is admitted to probate. However, exceptions do exist. If the executor of the estate has sent formal notice to interested parties, those individuals typically have only six months from the date of the notice to file a contest. Furthermore, in rare cases, if fraud or other issues are found after the statute of limitations has passed, there may be grounds for extending the filing period.
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What is the Legal Process of Contesting a Will in Virginia?
Contesting a will requires careful legal consideration and planning, evidence gathering, and adherence to strict procedural rules.
Filing a Complaint
A will contest begins when an interested party files a formal complaint in the circuit court where the will was probated. The complaint outlines the specific grounds for challenging the will.
Discovery
During pretrial discovery, both sides (the contestant and proponent) gather and exchange evidence. Evidence may include medical records in cases of suspected incapacity, financial records or communications to establish undue influence, or testimony from the witnesses who observed the execution of the will.
Mediation or Settlement
Some will contests can be resolved outside the court to avoid lengthy litigation. If a mutually acceptable resolution has been negotiated and accepted, a settlement may involve redistributing assets, revising the executor’s duties, or other remedies.
Court Proceedings
If mediation or negotiation fails, the case will proceed to trial. The court will evaluate all evidence to determine the will’s validity or the validity of the contestant’s claims. The court will consider the intent of the deceased party’s wishes, any evidence of incapacity or influence, and examine whether the will was signed in accordance with Virginia law.
Final Judgment
At the conclusion of the trial, the court will issue a final judgment. It may uphold the current will as valid, revert to a prior will if one exists, or invalidate the will and distribute assets according to Virginia’s intestacy laws.
Contesting Other Estate Matters
While will contests are the most common and well-known of estate disputes, estate matters can become contentious in other ways, including disputes over trusts, beneficiary designations, or the actions of executors and trustees. These conflicts usually revolve around issues of fairness, transparency, and legal compliance.
Trust Disputes
Trust disputes can arise when beneficiaries, trustees, or other interested parties disagree over the interpretation or management of the trust. Common issues can include
- The validity of the trust
Like wills, trusts can also be challenged if there is evidence of incapacity, undue influence, or fraud. - Trustee misconduct
Trustees have a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries in managing the trust’s assets. Mismanagement of assets, self-dealing, favoritism, or improper accounting can lead to legal actions to remove the trustee or recover losses. - Disagreement over the trust’s terms
Ambiguous, vague, or misinterpreted language in the trust document can cause disputes over how the assets should be distributed or managed.
Beneficiaries or other interested parties can petition the court to resolve disputes, enforce trust terms, or remove and replace a trustee if necessary.
Misconduct by an Executor or Administrator
Like trustees, executors or administrators of an estate also play a central role in managing the estate, paying debts, and distributing assets. Common disputes can arise over
- Failure to perform duties
Executors or administrators who fail to communicate with beneficiaries, delay the administration process, or neglect to file required documents can face challenges from the estate’s beneficiaries. - Misappropriation of assets
Suspicions of theft and misallocating estate funds can lead to legal action by beneficiaries. - Favoritism or other biases
Because executors and administrators are required to manage the estate impartially, any sign of favoritism can lead to legal challenges.
In these cases, beneficiaries can petition the court to demand a full accounting, seek restitution for damages caused by mismanagement, or remove an executor or administrator and name a replacement.
Disputes Over Beneficiary Designations
Beneficiary designations for retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or other payable-on-death accounts can be a source of conflict when
- Beneficiary designations are unclear, leading to disagreements over who is entitled to proceeds.
- Last-minute changes to beneficiaries raise suspicions of undue influence or fraud.
- Discrepancies exist between the beneficiary designations on the document and the will. In this case, the document will generally take precedence unless invalidated.
Intestate Estate Disputes
If the deceased party dies without a will, their estate is distributed according to Virginia’s intestacy laws prioritizing the individual’s spouse, children, and other close relatives. However, disputes can still arise over
- Disagreement over the appointment of the estate’s administrator
- Paternity, estranged family members, or illegitimate children
- Disagreement over the value of the assets and how they should be divided
Disputes Involving Creditors
Creditors may also file claims against the estate if the deceased party owed debts. While a creditor cannot challenge the validity of a will, disputes can arise if
- The beneficiaries believe the creditor’s claim is excessive or invalid.
- The executor failed to pay debts in a timely manner, leading to legal action.
Even when a will or trust is valid, families can still become embroiled in disputes over the deceased party’s intentions, especially when it involves blended families, new spouses, and stepchildren. Family members often challenge gifts made later in life, question if all assets were property disclosed, or contest the decisions made by the executor or trustee.
What Happens When a Family Member Has Been Disinherited?
While disinheriting some family members in Virginia is possible, it requires clear language and strict adherence to legal requirements.
- Disinheriting a spouse
Because of Virginia’s elective share law, a surviving spouse is entitled to a claim portion of the deceased party’s estate, regardless of the will’s terms. The amount the surviving spouse can claim depends on the duration of the marriage. In long-term marriages of 15 years or more, the spouse is entitled to 50% of the marital property portion of the “augmented estate.” - Disinheriting a child
Unlike a spouse, children do not have an automatic right to inherit under Virginia law. A parent can choose to disinherit a child but must do so with explicit intention, stating in the will that they have made no provision for the child intentionally. Although it is not legally required, explaining the reason for the disinheritance clarifies the intention and prevents misunderstandings.
The Importance of Getting Skilled Legal Assistance When Contesting Estate Matters in Richmond, Virginia
When conflicts arise over an estate matter, they can cause much emotional and financial turmoil within a family. The assistance of an experienced estate litigation attorney will be critical to ensure that matters are handled sensitively and efficiently.
If you are involved in a will or trust dispute, you will want a team of attorneys who will work toward a resolution that protects your individual interests, your loved one’s wishes, and preserves family harmony. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our experienced Richmond, Virginia estate attorneys will help you navigate the legal complexities of a contested estate matter while ensuring your rights and interests are protected. Call us at (804) 581-8064 or schedule a free consultation with one of our client services coordinators.
