When individuals desire to transfer their wealth to their new wife or husband or biological children – in the absence of their stepchildren – conflicts often occur. When a step-parent dies, the stepchildren may believe that their step-parent has a moral duty to support them. And when stepchildren miss an inheritance, they may feel envious or resentful, mainly if their step-parent already profited from their biological parent’s wealth. But is it possible for a stepchild to contest a will? Can will lawyers near me assist in cases such as this?
Yes, a stepchild has the right to oppose their step-parent’s will by making a lawsuit under the Inheritance Act. However, adult children’s claims under the Inheritance Act are among the most challenging and contentious cases made under the law. Nevertheless, here are the things to consider when contesting step-parents’ will.
What Are The Things To Consider When Contesting A Step-parent’s Will?
A stepchild has the same right to dispute their step-parent’s will as they would any other will for whom they are qualified. However, an application for provision does not provide you with the opportunity to alter your will. Instead, it is based on the applicant’s demand for financial assistance and upkeep from the deceased’s estate. What constitutes appropriate provision will be determined by several variables, including:
– the applicant’s capacity to satisfy their financial obligations
– the amount that is required for their upkeep and survival
– the applicant’s quality of life
– the applicant’s and the deceased’s connection
– a measure of the estate’s size
– if there are any conflicting claims against the estate
– the applicant’s behaviour throughout the life of the dead; and
– the desires of the dead
– the applicant’s quality of life
– the applicant’s and the deceased’s connection
Furthermore, if you want legal support with inheritance difficulties, estate planning lawyers and will lawyers near me may help.
Who Is Regarded A Stepchild?
It’s crucial to identify whether you qualify as a stepchild before filing a claim. If an individual is a stepchild of a dead person, they must meet the following criteria:
– The person’s stepchild and step-parent connection with the dead person did not terminate; or
– The person is a child of a spouse of the deceased person
Who Is Eligible To Oppose Their Step-parent’s Will?
The following will be regarded as acceptable:
– adopted children or stepchildren
– spouses
– those who were financially reliant on the deceased when they died
When it comes to claiming an inheritance, stepchildren are viewed the same as biological children. As a result, if your biological parent’s estate was handed down to your step-parent and your step-parent didn’t include you in their will, you may be able to file a family provision claim against their estate. You can get in touch with estate planning lawyers about this issue.
What If Your Step-parent Died Without A Will?
If anybody dies intestate or without a Will, a person having authority to be appointed as an administrator to assume charge and run the estate may apply a Letter of Administration on Intestacy with the Court.
Part 3 of the Act specifies how an estate’s assets are distributed in the event of intestacy. Generally, the inheritance will be allocated among the deceased’s closest relatives, beginning with the deceased’s spouse and children.
Furthermore, a stepchild cannot be the Administrator of their step-parent estate, and they will not be eligible for a portion of their step-parent’s inheritance under intestacy regulations. Stepchildren are nonetheless regarded entitled to file a claim against an intestate estate for family support.
What Indicates The End Of A Step-Parent/Step-Child Relationship?
The connection between a stepchild and a step-parent comes to an end upon:
– the divorce between the dead person and the step-parent
– the death of the deceased person’s illegitimate connection with the step-parent child’s
– the end of the civil relationship between the deceased person and the stepchild’s parents
Do I Maintain My Identity As A Stepchild If My Step-parent Remarries?
No, even if the step-parent remarries after the death of the stepchild’s parent, as long as the step-parent and legal parent were married or in a civil partnership at the time of the biological parent’s death, the stepchild/stepparent relationship continues.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Contesting A Will?
The expense of coming to Court is the most evident consequence of opposing a will. To file a will contest the case in Court, most persons would engage a probate litigation counsel. A will dispute may or may not be pricey, based on the magnitude of the prospective inheritance and the intricacy of the case. This is something will lawyers near me can help you with. However, if the estate is considerable, it may be well worth the effort and money to contest the will in probate court.
Not everybody has the right to contest a will that they believe is unreasonable. However, if you think you may have a claim or if you are an administrator of a questioned will, you must obtain legal advice as soon as possible frin will lawyers near me or consider estate planning lawyers since limited time may apply.