One of the primary reasons individuals establish an estate plan is to ensure their wishes are granted and their legacy protected both while they are alive and after they die. An estate plan can help prevent conflicts and disputes, but even the most well-conceived one isn’t always completely foolproof.
When disagreements arise in estate matters, they can create emotional and financial strain for everyone involved. Whether the issue concerns disputes among family members, suspicions about administration or fraud, or concerns about a loved one’s competency, these challenges require careful legal navigation to ensure sensitivity and fair resolutions.
If you are navigating a dispute over a will, trust, or other estate matter, you will need experienced legal guidance. At Melone Hatley, P.C., our Virginia Beach, Virginia trusts and estates lawyers are here to provide compassionate guidance through the process, resolve conflicts, and protect your legal rights.
Common Contested Estate Disputes in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Contested estate matters can arise over disagreements over wills, trusts, the distribution of a person’s assets, or even suspicions over mismanagement or fraud. Some of the most common types of disputes we see as Virginia Beach estate planning attorneys include
- Will contests when beneficiaries believe a will is invalid due to improper execution, undue influence by others, or lack of mental capacity
- Second marriage and blended family conflicts
- Trust disputes over unclear language
- Claims of mismanagement by an executor or administrator
- Disagreement over the distribution of assets
- Claims made by omitted or forgotten heirs
- Disagreements when non-probate asset distribution conflicts with a will
- Accusations of undue influence, fraud, and suspicious last-minute changes
- Debts and creditor claims against the estate
- Disputes over guardianships or conservatorships
- Family business or property disputes
- Tax and legal disputes
Unfortunately, because estate matters usually involve personal and emotional dynamics, contested estate matters often arise when money and emotions intersect. When money is involved, it can reflect deeper relationship matters. These can be due to family rivalries, unresolved issues, blended families and perceptions of fairness, ulterior financial motives, distrust or suspicion, or emotional attachment to certain property.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., our experienced Virginia Beach, Virginia wills and trusts attorneys can help you navigate these sensitive and complex dynamics to reach resolutions that balance the legal and emotional aspects of complex estate matters.
Disputes Among Named Beneficiaries
Disputes among beneficiaries can be emotionally charged and strain family relationships when they occur. Conflicts can arise because of different interpretations of the decedent’s intentions, financial disagreements between beneficiaries, or even personal grievances. Contested estate matters can be caused by
- Unequal allocation of assets or a perception of favoritism
When beneficiaries feel the distribution was unfair or not the decedent’s intentions, emotional grievances can spark disputes. - Lifetime gifts
Beneficiaries often argue that gifts or property transfers during the decedent’s life should reduce that recipient’s share of the estate. - Exclusion from the estate
Disputes often arise when individuals and family members feel wrongly left out of the will or trust. - Discrepancies over asset valuation
Some beneficiaries may dispute the valuation of specific assets, such as real estate or business interests, creating the perception that one beneficiary is receiving a disproportionate share.
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Disputes Over Inheritance Rights
Disputes can arise when there are questions about who is entitled to inherit under the will, trust, or state intestacy laws. These disputes are often highly emotional and legally complex, particularly in cases of blended families, omitted heirs, or contested relationships. Contested estate matters can arise when
- A will or trust excludes family members who believe they are entitled to a share of the estate. These often include children from previous marriages, estranged relatives, or others who were financially dependent on the decedent.
- There are questions about the paternity of a child or in cases involving adopted children or stepchildren.
- There are inconsistencies between the will and trust or beneficiary designations on other accounts, such as life insurance or retirement accounts.
- The individual has died without a will, and intestacy disputes occur when there are disagreements over familial relationships or asset distribution.
Disputes Over Guardianship or Conservatorship Matters
Disputes over the guardianship or conservatorship of minor children or incapacitated adults often involve competing claims from family members, friends, or other interested parties who believe they are best suited to care for them. Common causes for disputes are
- The allegations that a surviving parent or named guardian or conservator is unfit
- Competing family claims over who should assume guardianship or conservatorship
- Disputes over education, religion, or medical care for a minor child
- Jurisdictional disputes
- Challenges over the necessity of a guardianship or conservatorship
- Disputes over the scope of the guardian’s or conservator’s authority
Allegations of Undue Influence or Fraud
Allegations of undue influence or fraud involve improper actions that can compromise the integrity of a will or trust.
Undue influence happens when another party exerts excessive pressure on a vulnerable testator to make or alter an existing estate plan in that person’s favor. This often occurs when someone takes advantage of the testator’s physical, emotional, or financial dependency, limits the testator’s contact with other family members or advisors to keep control of their decision, or uses threats, deceit, or coercion to get the testator to change their will or trust.
Fraud occurs when someone deliberately misrepresents or deceives the testator to create or alter an estate plan. Common types of fraud include fraud in the inducement – providing false information to persuade a testator to change their estate plan, or fraud in the execution – tricking a testator into signing a document they did not intend as a will or trust.
Competency of the Testator
To create a will or trust, the testator must have the mental capacity to understand the nature and extent of their assets, the individuals who will receive these assets, and the legal consequences of their decisions. Contested estate matters over the testator’s competency are not only emotionally sensitive but also legally challenging.
Disputes are very common when beneficiaries or other interested parties question whether the testator had the mental capacity to execute a valid will or trust. Common grounds for competency challenges include
- Allegations that the testator was suffering from dementia or other cognitive decline that impaired their judgment and understanding of what they were doing
- Claims that medications, chronic illnesses, or other acute conditions affected the testator’s ability to comprehend the nature of their actions
- Claims that the testator had experienced temporary incapacity, such as a mental health crises, at the time of the execution of the documents
- Evidence that the testator acted in a manner inconsistent with their usual character or previously expressed intentions
Ambiguous or Conflicting Terms in Estate Documents
Ambiguities or conflicting terms in a will or trust can lead to disputes among beneficiaries, executors, and trustees. These usually arise when language used in the documents lacks clarity or contradictions leave room for multiple interpretations. Unclear provisions, inconsistent language, lack of detail, or improper amendments can lead to contested estate matters about who is entitled to what or the testator’s intentions.
Executor or Trustee Misconduct
Executors and trustees are responsible for managing the estate or trust according to the decedent’s wishes. However, disputes may occur when
- There are allegations that the executor or trustee breached their fiduciary duties, failing to act in the best interests of the heirs or beneficiaries
- There are concerns about mismanagement of assets, poor investment decisions, or other improper uses of estate funds
- Claims are made that the executor or trustee showed preferential treatment to certain beneficiaries
- There is evidence of self-dealing where the executor or trustee used their position to personally benefit from the trust or will at the expense of the beneficiaries
- There have been delays in or a refusal to distribute assets in accordance with the terms of the will or trust
- There is little or no record-keeping, making it difficult to track estate activities
Disputes Over Tax Liabilities
Disputes over estate tax obligations, audits, or unpaid tax debts can be a significant source of conflict between beneficiaries and further complicate asset distribution. Conflicts can arise when
- The proper valuation of assets and the application of exemptions is being disputed.
- Conflicts arise over who should be responsible for tax liabilities.
- Disagreements arise over how to address unpaid tax debts, liens, and penalties left by the decedent
- There are disputes over errors and omissions in estate tax returns leading to audits or additional assessments.
Creditor Claims and Debts
Creditors often file claims against an estate to recover debts owed by a decedent. Disputes can arise when
- Beneficiaries contest the legitimacy of certain creditor claims.
- Beneficiaires challenge how the debts are settled when it reduces the assets they are entitled to receive.
- There are disagreements over how debts should be paid from the estate’s assets.
- Priority of the claims and who should be paid first is contested.
- Late claims are filed after the estate distribution process has begun, leading to contested estate matters over previously settled matters
Getting the Skilled Legal Guidance of an Experienced Virginia Beach, Virginia Trusts and Estates Attorney
The point of a well-conceived and comprehensive estate plan is to ensure that assets are distributed in accordance with a decedent’s wishes and disputes avoided. Unfortunately, conflicts can still arise when beneficiaries believe the terms of the will or trust are unfair, suspect undue influence or fraud, or believe there were other oversights or inequities. Trustees and executors are also not beyond reproach and can ignore their fiduciary responsibilities when managing a trust or administering an estate.
Navigating a will or trust dispute is emotionally and financially taxing for most families, often leading to divisions within the family itself. If you are navigating a contested estate matter, having the guidance of an experienced estate litigation attorney will provide invaluable support, ensuring the process is handled efficiently and sensitively. Involving an attorney early in the process may allow you to address conflicts proactively and efficiently, preserving family relationships whenever possible.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., our team of experienced Virginia Beach, Virginia trusts and estates attorneys offers personalized legal solutions to compassionately resolve contested estate matters and ensure your legal rights are protected. We are highly skilled at investigating claims, gathering evidence, and mediating disputes to minimize costs and emotional strain. If litigation becomes necessary, we will advocate vigorously on your behalf. Call us at (757) 296 – 0580 or schedule a free consultation with one of our client services coordinators through our contact page.
