Families can bring about a lot of love and animosity. Some people may truly love everyone in their families while others have become estranged over the years. While the latter arrangement may keep arguments at bay as long as family members stay away from each other, issues could arise in the event of a death in the family. Even estranged individuals in New York may feel that they are entitled to some inheritance, and probate litigation could ensue if documents do not reflect that idea.
Though a parent may no longer be around to field a conflict between a distant child, this does not mean that a dispute will not occur. Surviving siblings could easily wind up in litigation if inheritances do not seem fair or even if a child is left out entirely. Conflicting beneficiaries can easily cause an estate to wind up in court for years.
Litigation also greatly diminishes the value of estates. Between court costs and other fees, a once substantial estate could dwindle by the time the case comes to a close. While individuals can hope to head off such arguments through estate planning, this step is not always foolproof.
If an estate does become involved in probate litigation, the executor and other parties involved may have a long and difficult journey ahead of them. Fortunately, they do not have to deal with such disputes on their own. Legal professionals could help individuals understand their options when it comes to contesting estate planning documents or taking other action against an estate in New York.