Will Disputes & Probate Litigation
David M. Carter, Brian J. Connelly, Todd W. Fennell, Anthony P. Guettler, Troy B. Hafner, Jason L. Odom, and Eugene J. O'Neill
When the distribution of wealth among family members and beneficiaries is involved, relationships are quite often put to the test. Will contests and will disputes have become increasingly more commonplace, particularly in high net worth estates and complex probate matters where numerous beneficiaries cannot come to an agreement on the handling or resolution of the situation.
Will contests frequently occur when the will itself is challenged during a probate proceeding. A will can be challenged for a number of reasons or combinations of reasons. Many times it is contested on the basis of improper preparation of the estate planning document itself; allegations of lack of mental capacity of the testator; or assertions that the testator was unduly influenced by a family member or other interested party during the execution of the will. The process of resolving such will and estate disputes alone can add to the emotional toll the loss of a loved one takes on the family members.
Estate and will disputes can sometimes be resolved short of actual probate litigation by hiring an attorney to mediate the dispute between the parties involved. Unfortunately, as the assets grow larger and the complexity of the estate increases, the number of potential points of contention increases correspondingly. The distribution of wealth among beneficiaries then becomes so contentious that the only option remaining is to proceed with litigation to resolve and end the dispute.
The probate lawyers at Gould Cooksey Fennell are uniquely qualified to handle estate and trust disputes under either scenario because of its ability to combine and harness the wealth of substantive knowledge that its estate planning and tax attorneys bring to the table with the great resources and expertise of its experienced litigation attorneys. This powerful combination of talents and strengths enables the firm to skillfully handle all aspects of the most sophisticated and complex probate and trust disputes and litigation.
Gould Cooksey Fennell, P.A., Attorneys at Law provide legal council to estate planning, estate litigation, tax and probate clients from our offices in Vero Beach, Florida. Our tax and estate lawyers serve clients throughout the Treasure Coast region of Florida, including the cities of West Palm Beach, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Fellsmere, Sebastian, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, and Okeechobee.