Challenging a Will Lawsuit

If you think your interests are injured with the will, left by your testator, seek help from a hereditary cases lawyer. He will initiate a challenging a will lawsuit.

There are null and void grounds for filing a challenging a will lawsuit. Null grounds have no legal effect while void grounds have legal effect, but it can be suspended. For this purpose, it is necessary judging the relevant claim or objection. To be filed challenging a will lawsuit it is necessary not to have expired 10-year duration of opening of succession. In addition: not to have passed more than 10 years since the death of the testator. The period between learning the reason for filing a challenging a will lawsuit and starting the procedure should be maximum 3 years.

The first ground of nullity is governed by Art. 43, para. 1 b. A the Law of Succession. It is related to testamentary capacity. In order for a person to draw a valid will, it should be major and be able to act wisely and handle his actions. This is Decision № 244-1979-I, 83-2004-II GO SCC.

People who are under full guardianship do not have testamentary capacity. A controversial issue is the ability to bequeath of such person. According to some of the opinions, a person placed under partial guardianship can not be legally able to prepare a will. Case law, however, takes the opposite view. It is assuming a decisive factor specific factual possibility of reasonable actions of the person rather than the legal limit of capacity. For this reason, in a challenging a will lawsuit a person’s legal capacity to bequeath shall be assessed to the date of the will. It doesn’t matter the legal capacity of a person before making a will.

The Secon Ground

Challenging a Will Lawsuit

of nullity of a will is governed by art. 43, para. 1 b. “B”  Law of Succession. According to it the mistake, which is a discrepancy between the external objectification and the actual inner will of the testator, is a ground for dispute. Mistake can refer both to the person – successor, and the subject of inheritance. The mistake in the name of the successor does not vitiate the will. The contents must have enough data to customize the person (decision № 284-2000-I GO SCC). It is possible that there is a mistake of the motive for the preparation of the will and it is displayed as an independent ground for filing a challenging a will lawsuit.

It is envisaged that the motive is expressed in the very will and it is crucial, namely that it is the only reason for creating a testamentary disposition.

The following grounds for nullity of a will are “fraud and violence”. They are regulated in Art. 43, para. 2 Law of Succession. Violence can be expressed in physically or as a threat of force. If violence is in a form of a threat, it should create a well-founded fear in the testator, who is preparing a will.

In a challenging a will lawsuit the original claim may be filed to seek annulment. Without the need of changing the claim, it can be proclaimed the nullity of the will. To perform testamentary dispositions court can make a judgment, based solely on the will, submitted as evidence in the case.

Grounds for nullity of a will include:

• procedural defect of the will – lack of full date and / or signature of the testator, the will is not written manuscript by the testator and is printed on a typewriter, computer or laptop
• the motive of the will is contrary to law and morality
• the will is on a contrary to the gratuitous nature of this type of document

Due to the variety of reasons that can lead to vice – grounds for filing a challenging a will lawsuit it is a good idea to seek help from a hereditary cases lawyer before you prepare this important document.

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