Even if you know that your parent or grandparent drafted a will on his or her own, you may have reason to believe that the will should not be considered valid. When you find yourself in this position, it’s crucial that you know what legal options you have in Massachusetts.
One reason for a case like this could be undue influence that could alter the will from what your parent actually wanted. This influence could come from another family member who may have told the parent or grandparent what to put into the will and swayed their choices.
For example, perhaps you have a mother or a father who has always told you that you are going to get the family home when he or she passes away. At the same time, you have a sibling who also wants to the home, but who has been promised a vacation property instead. Then, when the will is read, you may find that your sibling is actually named as the person who gets the family home.
Looking into it further may uncover that your sibling spent a lot of time “helping” your mother or father update the will, all without your knowledge. They could have been doing this to swing things into their name, when your parent really wanted a different outcome.
This especially becomes an issue as people get older, seeing as how mental disorders can make it hard for them to make decisions on their own. They may agree to changes without really knowing what they are doing.
Our firm helps families who dispute a will for that or other reasons. To learn more about what options you have, we hope that you’ll take a look at our page on contesting wills today.
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