Will Contest and Inheritance Litigation Attorneys in Palm Beach County and Martin County FL
Back in 1990, fossil hunters discovered what was to be the most intact skeleton of a T-Rex ever found, on land in South Dakota belonging to Maurice and Darlene Williams.
After prevailing in several legal disputes, Mr. and Mrs. Williams sold the skeleton for $7.6 million and it is presently on display in Chicago’s Field Museum.
Fast forward to the present day, and three of their four children are embroiled in litigation over the estate left to them by Darlene, who passed away in 2020.
The central issue of the dispute is a Will Contest, as Darlene had had two Wills on file in South Dakota, from 2017 and 2020, each with very different instructions and designations.
While no trial date has been set to decide which of the Wills is the valid one, there are a number of lessons to be learned from the legal troubles illustrated in this situation, which are, unfortunately, all too common.
- Comprehensive estate planning, which also must be reviewed and updated regularly, and which is legally compliant with state law, can vastly diminish the likelihood of estate-related litigation.
- Clearly and thoroughly defining one’s wishes in a documented estate plan limits uncertainty as to your final instructions and beneficiary designations.
- Develop your detailed estate plan alongside experienced, skilled attorneys who are highly knowledgeable in all aspects of estate planning and will help you create a plan that satisfies your wishes and maximizes effectiveness and clarity, thus diminishing the likelihood of future estate litigation.
At Kitroser Lewis & Mighdoll, we offer our clients 100+ years of combined attorney experience in all areas of Estate Planning, Will & Trust Creation and Estate-Related Litigation services, including Probate Litigation, Trust Litigation, Will Contest and Inheritance Dispute representation.
If you need to develop your comprehensive estate plan, or you are facing any type of estate-related litigation, we look forward to working with you soon.
North Palm Beach Office: 561 721 0600
Jensen Beach Office: 772 763 1400
You can also email us through our online Contact Form
