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Contested Wills Attorney in New York City

As contested wills attorneys, we can help you litigate a will contest. Our law firm in New York City has extensive experience in will contests. We have litigated will contests for almost two decades, consistently achieving superior results.

Here are some of the key services and benefits we provide:

Review the Will and Identify Potential Issues

We start by carefully analyzing the will or trust document to identify any ambiguities, inconsistencies or other problems that could lead to a challenge. We look for issues like:

  • Unequal distributions of assets
  • Confusing or contradictory language
  • Errors in executing formalities in the signatures, witnessing, and attestation clause
  • Suspicious relationship of witnesses to main beneficiary
  • Confidential relationship of main beneficiary to testator

Spotting these issues early allows us to strategize the best approach to dealing with them.

Assesses Validity of Will Contest Claims

In many contests, the disgruntled parties will claim the will is invalid due to undue influence, lack of testamentary capacity, or improper execution. We evaluate the merit of these claims based on the evidence and applicable state laws. We can then provide an honest assessment of whether the will is likely to be upheld or struck down if challenged.

Negotiate with Other Parties

Ideally, an estate dispute can be settled through negotiation rather than going to court. We work to negotiate a settlement with the executors, trustees, and beneficiaries involved in the dispute. Through pragmatic negotiations, we aim to reach a compromise that avoids costly litigation.

File Litigation When Needed

If a settlement can’t be reached, we can file litigation and represent you through the will contest proceeding in Surrogate’s Court. We build the strongest case possible to invalidate the current will or uphold your position. We handle all aspects of the litigation process on your behalf.

Conduct SCPA 1404 Discovery

We conduct SCPA § 1404 discovery to obtain evidence that can support the grounds for a will contest. We conduct depositions of the nominated executor, witnesses, and the attorne-draftsman to elicit relevant information that can strengthen our case. We subpoena important documents such as medical records, financial records, attorney-draftsman notes, and correspondences to obtain evidence to support the will contest.

Navigate Complex Estate Laws

We know the intricate legal issues that can arise in contested wills disputes. We are familiar with laws and cases relating to will executions, challenges, and interpretations that come into play during will contests. We know how to apply these laws and cases to give your contest the highest chance of success.

If you need legal representation, we at the Law Offices of Albert Goodwin are here for you. We are located in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. We cover Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County. You can call us at 212-233-1233 or send us an email at [email protected].

Attorney Albert Goodwin

About the Author

Albert Goodwin Esq. is a licenced New York attorney with over 17 years of courtroom experience. His extensive knowledge and expertise make him well-qualified to write authoritative articles on a wide range of legal topics. He can be reached at 212-233-1233 or [email protected].

Albert Goodwin gave interviews to and appeared on the following media outlets:

ProPublica Forbes ABC CNBC CBS NBC News Discovery Wall Street Journal NPR

Client Reviews

Verified feedback from our clients

Mr. Goodwin is everything you want in an attorney: professional, honest, thorough, and genuinely caring. He always explains things clearly, so I understood exactly what was happening and what to expect next. His attention to detail and persistence really stood out. Looking back, I feel lucky to have found him. He guided me through the whole process expertly, and I deeply appreciate all his hard work. Would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Sarah M

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Thanks to Mr. Albert Goodwin's hard work and smart thinking, I finally won my case, which has been a long time coming. He figured out solutions that no one else could see. I'm really impressed by his strong ethics - something that's rare these days. As my lawyer, he went above and beyond what I expected. I'm so grateful I found him and would definitely recommend him to anyone needing legal help.

Lawrence H

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From our first meeting, I knew I was in great hands with Albert and his associate Katrina. They handled my case with incredible skill and efficiency, even though they took it over from another firm. What impressed me most was how quickly Albert responded to my questions with honest, clear answers - no sugarcoating, just straight talk. They managed a huge workload under tight deadlines, and their fees were very reasonable for such high-quality work. Beyond his legal expertise, Albert's wit and personality made a difficult process much easier to handle. I'm deeply grateful for their hard work and would absolutely choose them again. If you need legal help in New York, you won't find better representation than Albert's firm.

Adam F

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