Will Contests

Indiana Will Contest Attorney

Curtis E. Shirley's Articles on Will Contests and Sample Will and Trust Contests

In the years to come, will contests will probably increase for several reasons. The primary reason is that society has become far more complicated, leading to disputes over the distribution of property. At the Indianapolis offices of Curtis E. Shirley, Mr. Shirley has many years of experience handling will contests. If you need an attorney to advise or represent you in a conflict over a will, contact his Indiana offices today.

Changes in Society

The rise in divorce and remarriage has given our society many more blended families, stepchildren, and stepparents. Another societal change involves how we care for the elderly, who now have the choice of a nursing home or in-home care. With adult children not handling day-to-day responsibility for elders, caretakers are inheriting more than ever. The ethical standards of fiduciaries also appear to be on the decline. Witnesses to wills inherit. Powers of attorney control everything. Even attorneys are drafting documents that benefit themselves or members of the attorney’s family.

Undue Influence Charges Lead to Difficult Litigation

All these changes to family structure and functioning mean that matters of inheritance have become less straightforward and conflicts over inheritance more frequent. Will contests frequently involve charges of undue influence, meaning that the person who made the will was believed to have been manipulated. Disputes over the provisions of a will also arise when the testator is thought to have been mentally or emotionally unbalanced. Whatever the origin of the dispute, the litigation required for resolving a will contest is difficult and sophisticated, often demanding knowledge of probate laws, trust laws, federal and state tax codes, income tax, estate and gift tax rules, trial rules, and the evidence laws.

Contact an Experienced Will Contest Attorney

Attorney Shirley is possibly the best-known estate and wills dispute attorney in Indiana. Because the litigation is so complicated, few attorneys practice in this area—only about a dozen in Indiana. Mr. Shirley is well known in the probate courts and among other attorneys. Other lawyers go to Curtis Shirley when they are personally involved in a will contest. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving contested wills. To learn how Curtis E. Shirley can help you, or your clients, in any matter involving a will contest, contact his Indianapolis law office today.