Losing a loved one is never an easy subject, especially if it is out of the blue or has happened due to an accident of some kind. The last thing that anyone is thinking about is money and the will, but that can change quickly and you may find yourself completely cut off from the rest of the family and close friends. It still can be a very difficult decision to know when to contest a will if you genuinely feel that the deceased wishes are not being followed, so here are a few of the reasons why you might want to get a lawyer involved to help straighten out the complicated situation of a contested will. 

Very Old Will

Sometimes people write a will down once and never have it updated for the rest of their lives. This is especially true of people who die unexpectedly, making the situation doubly tragic. If you know that the last time the will was written or updated at all was many years ago then you can make a very fair case that it should be changed. Contested wills are touchy subjects, even when they are very old, and you should always talk to a professional before proceeding in any fashion.

Last Minute Changes

On the other end of the spectrum, if the will has been updated very recently and quite significantly then questions can be brought about why this was the case. If the deceased did not have the sole power of attorney or control over his or her will, then this can be even further examined. Whatever the situation, it bears investigation to ensure there was no ill-intent or any kind of subterfuge going on and that the deceased wishes are, indeed, being followed to the letter of the law that they were originally written in. 

Unable To Verify The Will

If, for whatever reason, you are not allowed access to the will or others are being very non-committal about what the will says, then you have good reason to start beginning legal proceedings straight away. While talking about a will can, indeed, be awkward, outright ignoring you is not fair and can cause great distress on your part as well. Contested wills can be ugly affairs but it is not right to allow things to go unchallenged if you really feel as if you are being frozen out, and a professional lawyer can help you make things right. 

Reach out to a solicitor near you to learn more about contested wills.