The death of a relative is always a difficult time, but in some cases, family issues can complicate the process of distributing the inheritance. If the deceased has left behind a will that specifies how their estate is to be divided up, this can prevent a lot of arguing and infighting about who is entitled to what. However, even if there is a will left behind, this isn’t necessarily the end of the issue.
If you are expecting a windfall from an inheritance, money that you have already earmarked to fund the start-up of a business, there are some things that you should be aware of.
Invalid Wills
Sadly, there are a number of scammers and con artists out there who will deliberately target older people with a view to convincing them to rewrite their will so that they leave all their money and possessions to the con artist. This can have a devastating effect on families during an already difficult time and can present serious issues if their children are expecting to receive a payout as part of their inheritance.
If you have already earmarked this inheritance money for a specific purpose, as many people do, you might be relying on it for your future and an unexpected spanner in the works can seriously derail your entire life.
Can I challenge it?
There are certain circumstances in which it is possible that a will can be judged invalid and can even be overturned. If you are relying on receiving the money from an inheritance, but then discover that there is another will you were unaware of that denies you what is rightfully yours, there are steps you can take to remedy the situation.
If you suspect that the will is forged or that it was written and signed under duress or coercion, you can contact specialists like the-inheritance-experts.co.uk, who can help you to challenge it and hopefully claim the money that you are entitled to.
Inheritance disputes
If you plan on challenging a will then you need to file your case as soon as possible; there is a six-month time limit from the date that the will is executed for you to file a challenge against it. Of course, this period will overlap with the period of grieving for your dead relative. While you are coping with the grief and anger that often comes with the death of a relative, fighting a lengthy court battle is probably the last thing you want to do.
The good news is that while some inheritance disputes will be heard in court, many of them will be settled outside through mediation. Your lawyers will be able to handle this mediation, you don’t ever need to sit down opposite the other parties involved if you don’t want to – your lawyer can serve as a buffer between you.
If you think that you are being unfairly denied your inheritance because of a fraudulent or invalid will, you should challenge it as soon as possible. Contact an inheritance solicitor today to see if you have a case worth pursuing.