If you are looking for a reason to get your estate plan in order, the experience of a daughter faced with a long and expensive legal battle when an invalid will was filed should motivate you to contact an estate planning attorney today. This unsettling story, reported by KATU2, “Woman says invalid will drained her mom’s estate and exposed holes in OR probate process,” shows why wills need to be updated and shared with family members. While probate is considered “easy” in Colorado, this woman’s challenges are are all too familiar.
A woman’s mother died suddenly in her daughter’s apartment. A few months later, a will was filed and accepted by the probate court but not by the daughter. It took nearly five months for a judge to throw out the invalid will after it went into effect. While a Probate in Fort Collins is said to be streamlined, a challenge to the validity of a will is anything but.
The will expressly disinherited the daughter, who was very close with her mother and knew her mother would never have disinherited her. Her attorney filed to contest the will in June 2023.
The witness and the notary on the will were identified and interviewed. Both said they never signed the documents. The witness and notary filed their statements with the court in July. A handwriting expert who testified that the two signatures had been forged was brought in.
The handwriting expert also determined the mother’s signature on the will was forged, finding it had been taken from a legitimate will created in 2018. Kristy was left a quarter of her mother’s estate in this will.
The judge set a court date for September. In the interim, thousands of dollars were charged fraudulently on the mother’s credit cards. Someone advertised and held an estate sale in August when generations of heirlooms were sold at a garage sale.
The court froze the entire estate in late August. The 2022 will was found invalid in early September, and the executor was removed. By this time, however, a lot of irreparable damage had been done.
The court validates a will during probate. However, something went wrong in this case. Having a will prepared with an estate planning attorney and discussing the process with the appropriate family members should take place. However, not every family takes these steps. Worse, some families choose online drafting services, which my or may not be valid when the time comes.
The court is not responsible for contacting the beneficiaries to ensure that they receive their inheritance, unless they file a will contest with the court. It is then up to the heirs to prove a will’s validity.
In this case, both the beneficiary of the invalid will and the attorney representing the executor of the invalid will have refused to speak with a KATU2 reporter. So far, no charges have been filed. The only sure thing is that the case is under investigation by the county sheriff.
Keeping a will current and maintaining open lines of communication between the family, the executor and the estate planning attorney helps to avoid this kind of situation. Let us help you explore the Estate planning option right for your family. Call us today!
Reference: KATU2 (Oct. 14, 2024) “Woman says invalid will drained her mom’s estate and exposed holes in OR probate process”