subject: Contesting a Will - Should I Do It? [print this page] Contesting a Will - Should I Do It? Contesting a Will - Should I Do It?
You were fourteen when your mother died and your father was left to bring you and your younger brother up by himself. You were ok though - you all got on well and your dad's business was successful. Even though you weren't hugely rich, you had no massive financial worries. Your father used to say that you and your brother were so good and had been a massive source of strength for him.Contesting a Will was the furthest thought on your mind. Then your father became unwell and you both helped look after him. This meant you were even closer as you helped with all the day to day running of the house as well as having a normal social and school life. You didn't think of a claim on inheritance.Dad recovered and remarried and you were happy for him. Any suggestion of an inheritance claim would have been absurd; it just wasn't an issue to think about and he was still young! Your father's new wife was ok, and you and your brother had moved away from home by now and got on well. Then he became really ill again and this time it seemed so much worse and he wasn't really that old.You had remained close to your father; you adored him and couldn't bear the thought of him suffering. It was painful to watch.When your father went into hospital you put all thought of the possibility of his death out of your mind, he would surely fight through and survive. And an inheritance claim never crossed your mind!The shock when he dies doubles when you realise he hasn't left either yourself or your brother hardly any inheritance. Nearly everything has gone to his wife! You're not the money grabbing sort and you feel awful; you don't want to believe it but you don't want to accept it either.Should you contest the Will? Could he really have meant what appeared to be set in stone, signed by him in writing? Who should you turn to for advice? Would anyone understand or should you just swallow your pride and leave it alone?Contesting a Will is not the most pleasant experience when a loved one dies; it can cause all sorts of family arguments and emotions to erupt. Sadly, this kind of family argument can result in permanent, unfixable rifts within a family. However, if you strongly feel that something is not right then speak to an inheritance claim specialist solicitor and get expert legal advice.
