Contesting A Will Without A Lawyer

Wills and estates matters can be complex and emotional. Many people feel that whatever has happened to derail an estate is the result of someone acting in a way that is selfish, greedy, or even criminal. Sometimes someone wants to stop abuse or fraud, or simply ensure the deceased’s wishes are carried out. Perhaps financial support from the estate is warranted and not received. Often, these types of issues need to be brought before the courts to be resolved. Contesting a Will without a Lawyer: The DIY guide for Canadians not only informs the reader of the types of lawsuits that touch on estates matters and what is involved in each to help with the decision of whether or not to sue over an estate dispute; it is also for those who decide to go ahead with a lawsuit on their own, to help them navigate paperwork and the court system. It answers questions such as: • What are the legal grounds for contesting a will? • What are the pros and cons of starting a lawsuit about a will? • What evidence will I need and how do I get it? • How long does it take? • Are there steps I should take before starting the lawsuit? • What forms do I need and how do I use them? • Do I need a lawyer or can I handle this myself? • Will the estate or the other side cover my costs? Author and lawyer Lynne Butler offers factual and straightforward explanations in this indispensable book for anyone considering estate litigation. The download kit contains: • Statement of Claim • Caveats • Checklists to help you on your way — And more!

""Author Lynne Butler knows that so many people who can't afford lawyers also want to contest a will and receives questions all the time on her blog and through her weekly radio show. This book takes a realistic look at what a DIY versus lawyer-assisted lawsuit would be like, with solid, useful materials (including checklists and forms) for those who are going to go ahead on their own, regardless of difficulty."--

This book presents an easier way to handle estate planning, which the author calls the family meeting way. holding a family meeting to plan an estate is usually the easiest method because it allows the family to talk openly about the issues, ask questions, and work together. Ensure your family plans for the future without fighting! Use the steps in this book to plan ahead, hold meetings with your family, learn how to document the plan, and make it legal.

Every week we read in newspapers and news websites of cases where disappointed beneficiaries are in dispute with others, often members of their own families, about an estate that they expected to benefit from. These challenges often include claims that the person who does receive the benefit from the estate 'unduly influenced' the deceased or that they poured poison about the disappointed beneficiary into the ear of the deceased - which is what is referred to as fraudulent calumny. A Practical Guide to Challenging a Will Due to Undue Influence or Fraudulent Calumny explains what 'undue influence' and what 'fraudulent calumny' are and sets out the framework for challenges to wills where there is such a claim. It also guides the reader through some of the practical issues and difficulties that any disappointed beneficiary may face when making such challenges. These claims are difficult to pursue as they are treated by the courts as being similar to a fraud claim and the guide will be an essential tool for anyone contemplating making or defending such a challenge to a will (whether a lawyer, other professional person, or a beneficiary). ABOUT THE AUTHOR Evan Price is a barrister with over 20 years' experience of disputes involving property, wills, trusts and estates. He practices from Ten Old Square in Lincoln's Inn and is a member of the STEP (the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners). He is regularly instructed to assist clients to resolve matters involving broad and knotty issues that require urgent assistance.

Readers say it best: "Very informative." "Saved me a lot of money and headaches!" "Recommend it for everyone who has to plan estates for their elderly parents" Living Trusts for Everyone is the best resource for setting up a living trust. Explaining in specific terms what benefits a trust will have, Ronald Farrington Sharp gives the tools necessary to set up a loved one’s trust with no lawyers and no expense. Wills benefit lawyers. Trusts benefit the clients. Too often lawyers sell wills to clients only to sit back and wait to sell their probate services to their clients’ heirs. Ronald Farrington Sharp describes the best way to handle modern estate planning and details the many advantages trusts have over wills in not only eliminating probate but in also protecting your assets for your heirs. Sharp explains why legal services are not needed to do the clerical work in settling a trust after death. This updated edition includes new information on an array of subjects, including: Elimination of the federal estate tax for most estates due to increased exemption amounts Online assets The use of passwords, usernames, and websites Keeping trustees honest and the process of removing trustees for malfeasance Forms for simplifying the planning process Strategies to lower attorneys’ fees With no legal jargon, just step-by-step instructions and sample form letters, Living Trusts for Everyone takes the mystery out of the process of setting up a trust.