When you write your will, you expect it to be carried out the way you planned. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. If your will has errors or was changed very close to your death, people may choose to contest it.
Fortunately, avoiding a will contest is possible. Here are a few tips that you can follow to avoid trouble in the future.
1. Consider a no-contest clause
A no-contest clause is a serious decision. If you include it and someone tries to contest your will, he or she could lose everything you’ve left to him or her if he or she loses the case. This helps deter individuals from contesting a will, but it could also make it hard to contest the will in the case of a true error.
2. Talk about your estate plan with your children and beneficiaries
If you have an estate plan, it’s worth discussing it with your beneficiaries. Letting them know what you’re planning now could help them understand where they stand and what to expect in the future. If there is a problem, it’ll come up while you’re alive instead of following your death.
3. Keep your estate plan up to date
Finally, keep your estate plan up to date. If you update it regularly, it’s less likely that anyone will challenge it in the future. Even if they do, it’s less likely that they’ll win the case, since it’s easy to prove that you recently updated your will and did so regularly.
These are a few things to keep in mind about your estate plan and will. With good planning, you can prevent a will contest.
Source: The Balance, “5 Tips for Avoiding a Will Contest,” Julie Garber, accessed Dec. 07, 2017