Estate Litigation Lawyers: Everything You Need To Know

What Estate Litigation Lawyers Do

Estate lawyers assist parties during the administration of a deceased estate. Brisbane estate dispute lawyers, like those at ORG, are skilled in navigating complex familial and financial issues that can occur when wills or estates are contested. 

Their role is to provide expert legal advice, represent clients in court, and work towards resolutions that respect the deceased’s wishes while ensuring fairness to all parties involved.  Estate lawyers usually handle cases involving will challenges, disputes among beneficiaries, claims against estates, and other related legal matters in Brisbane estate litigation.

Challenging the Validity of the Will

Referred to by estate litigation lawyers as Solemn Form Probate proceedings. In these proceedings, the claimant mainly challenges the validity of the will. But they may also seek to invalidate the last will (or wills) of the deceased person. If a will is successfully challenged and invalidated, then the next-most previous will becomes the last will of the deceased person (unless also invalidated), and if there is no previous valid will then the person dies intestate.

Challenging the validity of the will is due to the testator not having capacity to make a will or adjustment.

Reasons a will may be invalid include that the testator didn’t have capacity to make a will (such as mental infirmity), a lack of knowledge and approval of the terms of the will, and duress/undue influence.

Further Provision Application / Family Provision Application

Sometimes abbreviated to “FPA”, and sometimes also called Part 4 Claims or Testator’s Family Maintenance (“TFM”) claims. In family provision matters, an applicant must establish that they have not received adequate provision from the estate of the deceased person, and applies to the court to have an order made for their proper and adequate provision from the estate of the deceased person. There are specific categories of eligible claimants, and strict timeframes in the Application for a Statutory Will, involved – each of which varies from State to State.

As the applicant seeks to alter the terms of the will, it’s referred to as contesting the will. If the applicant can establish the merits of their claim, then they may receive an award of provision in their favour.

Construction of the Terms of the Will

The best practice for making a will in QLD is for it to be drafted in clear, unambiguous, and uncontradictory terms. If there is any ambiguity or confusion about how the terms of a will operate, then it may be necessary to obtain a court declaration as to what the terms of the will actually mean – and this often affects the value of a beneficiary’s entitlements. For example, a clause in the will:

I give $100,000 to each of Joe Bloggs, Jane Doe and John Citizen in equal shares

Could mean either $100,000 split between those 3 people, or $100,000 to each of those 3 people (i.e. $300,000 total). There are special court rules concerning how the terms of a will are to be construed, and determining what was meant in the will.

Rectification of the Will

Similar to the construction of the terms of a will above, sometimes a will may have a clerical error or is in terms that do not give effect to the deceased’s intentions. For example, a gift may incorrectly describe property or the identification of intended beneficiaries. Where this occurs, an application can be made to the court to have the will rectified. This gives effect to the deceased’s actual intentions.

Need a copy of a will?

Probate Proceedings

Obtaining a grant of probate of a will is a court proceeding itself, but where it isn’t contested or challenged in any way, it is a relatively straightforward affair that doesn’t involve any appearance at the court – it is decided “on the papers”. However certain circumstances can require a court hearing and determination by a judge. This may sometimes involve the determination of issues such as where only a copy – and not the original – will cannot be found, or where a will is not in compliance with the legislative requirements under Queensland’s Succession Act 1981.
Our Estate Litigation Lawyers can walk you through the Grant of Probate process, from start to finish.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GRANT OF PROBATE

Compensation for Lost Benefit

This type of proceeding is to compensate an intended beneficiary under the will of the deceased, who has lost their beneficial entitlements due to the actions of an attorney for the deceased person prior to their death. For example, say if a will gifts the testator’s house to person A, and everything else to person B. Prior to death, the testator becomes unwell and so their attorney sells their house and uses the sale proceeds for a nursing home bond – the effect of which is that the gift of the house to person A fails, and the whole estate passes to person B. Person A can then apply for compensation for their lost benefit, being the value of the house. Strict timeframes apply to these matters.

General Estate Litigation

Sometimes it is necessary for a deceased person’s estate to sue other entities. This ensures that the full value of the estate is called in and subsequently distributed to the beneficiaries. Some examples include debts owed by others to the deceased, but this can also include continued litigation such as personal injuries matters started before the person died. Speak with our Estate Litigation Lawyers are well-versed in helping you to get what you are owed; as well as ensuring your understanding every step of the way.

Removal and Citation of an Executor

An executor is under a duty to act in the best interests of the estate, and to get in and administer the estate for the benefit of the beneficiaries – thankfully, most executors are diligent in this regard. Where they are not, or where they are acting contrary to the interests of the estate and the beneficiaries, an order can be sought for their removal – depending on circumstances, this may result in the appointment of a different executor named in the will or an administrator (which may include an independent, professional administrator).

A person appointed as executor is under no obligation to act. Usually, in that circumstance, they will renounce their role, by signing a renunciation to that effect. If they refuse to even take this simple step, then it is necessary to have them cited, being a formal court proceeding requiring them to take up the executorship within a specified time, failing which the court will pass over (i.e. ignore) their appointment as executor and proceed to the next-authorised person to administer the estate.

Speak with O’Connor, Rudder & Garrett today; our Estate Litigation Lawyers know how best to deal with the removal and citation of an executor.

CONTACT US TODAY

Application for a Statutory Will

Queensland’s Succession Act 1981 permits a will to be made for certain persons who lack capacity to make their own will.

This can be used to make a will for a person who has never had capacity, such as persons injured during childhood who have received a substantial compensation payment. If left to the intestacy rules, their estate may go to persons who are, for all intents and purposes, undeserving. A statutory will can ensure their estate goes to the people who the person most likely would have wanted to benefit.

Similarly, where an older person with a will loses capacity, their will may not accommodate circumstances that change after they lose capacity. A statutory will can ensure their will is updated. This is as long as the court is convinced the proposed updated will is a will the person would have made, if they had the capacity. For example, if a beneficiary became bankrupt or was embroiled in family law property settlement proceedings, then the testator may not want their inheritance to be affected by those matters, and so it may be appropriate to update the will with mechanisms for protecting the beneficiaries’ intended inheritance.

Informal Wills

In order to comply with the formal legal requirements, a will must be: (1) in writing; (2) signed by the testator (or by someone on their behalf, at their request) with the intention of making the will; (3) witnessed by 2 adults, in the presence of the testator.

Where a will doesn’t comply with those requirements, it can still be admitted as a will. This, however, will require the court to determine the matter. Some examples include a will written on post-it notes, a video recording will, an unsent text message will, as well as wills made with only a single witness.

Contact Us today for all Estate Litigation matters

If you are uncertain whether or not to contest a Will where you may have been unfavourably treated, or you have any questions regarding a Will, we recommend speaking to our team at O’Connor Rudy and Garrett Solicitors. We offer a FREE initial consultation, to allow us to gain an understanding of your matter. Our Estate Litigation Lawyers will be able to assist and advise you of the next steps and courses of action along with a quote for services. We also offer a No Win No Fee Service. Please contact us for more information by calling 07 3221 9722 or request a call back for contesting a will.

This publication is for information only and is not legal advice. You should obtain advice that is specific to your circumstances and not rely on this publication as legal advice. If there are any issues you would like us to advise you on arising from this publication, please let us know.

 Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legislation (personal Injury Work exempted).