Arlington Heights, IL Estate Plan Dispute Attorney

Experienced Lawyers Assisting Clients With Contested Wills and Trusts in Arlington Heights, Illinois

When a person creates an estate plan, this may involve a variety of documents, such as a will or trust, powers of attorney, or a living will. These documents describe how certain matters should be handled, including the care a person would like to receive while they are alive and who will inherit their assets after their death. However, disputes regarding these documents may arise, and in these cases, representation from an experienced attorney is essential in order to resolve these issues.

At A. Traub & Associates, we provide legal help throughout the estate administration process. We can help you resolve issues involving a contested estate, and we can work with you to create estate planning documents that will help avoid these types of disputes. Whether you are the executor of an estate, a trustee, or a beneficiary, we can advise you of your rights and your legal options, and we will provide the representation you need to resolve these issues effectively.

Contested Estate Planning Documents

The documents created as part of a comprehensive estate plan should specify a person's wishes. A person can make arrangements for their own medical treatment as they get close to the end of their life, providing detailed instructions for what types of care they do or do not want to receive. They can also detail how they would like their affairs to be handled after their death.

Disputes may arise if a person's intentions are not fully clear or if their family members disagree about the validity of the documents that have been created. Some examples of these types of disputes include:

• A person's will may be contested because their heirs believe that the person was forced to change the will by someone who had control over them, such as a family member who provided medical care. Other reasons to contest a will may include suspicions that the document filed in probate court is fraudulent or a belief that the person did not understand what they were signing when their will was created or updated.
• Family members may disagree about how to dispose of a loved one's remains because their will did not contain instructions for doing so.
• Beneficiaries may believe that a trustee did not follow the correct instructions when distributing assets that were held in a trust. They may need to address conflicts of interest or situations where a trustee put their own interests ahead of the interests of the beneficiaries.
• A person's family members may be concerned that their loved one's assets are not being properly managed by a person who has power of attorney for property.
• After guardianship has been established for an elderly adult, the ward or their family members may believe the guardian is not meeting their needs.

These types of disputes often arise when people attempt to use "do it yourself" estate planning tools or forms downloaded from a website. If documents are not executed correctly, they may be found to be invalid, or they may not fully address a person's wishes. By working with an attorney when creating wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other estate planning documents, you can be sure that you have met your legal requirements, that these documents are valid and enforceable, and that your needs and concerns have been properly addressed.

Contact Our Arlington Heights Contested Estates Lawyers

The attorneys of A. Traub & Associates provide legal representation for executors and trustees during the probate and estate administration process, and we also represent beneficiaries in matters involving contested wills and disputed estate planning documents. If you are concerned about making sure that your loved one's wishes are followed, or if you believe a will or other document is not valid, we can help you understand your legal options, and we will work with you to resolve these issues. Contact us today by calling 847-749-4182 to schedule a confidential consultation.