Following the death of a loved one, disputes often arise over a number of issues which are often litigated. At Parker Law, LLC, our experience as probate lawyers in Columbia, SC makes us qualified and committed to resolving these litigated estate issues. These issues may include:
Will Contest (validity) and Will Construction (interpretation)
Do you believe the decedent’s Will is not valid? Did the decedent have capacity issues? Were they influenced by another person at the time the Will was executed? Is the Will confusing or was it drafted in a way that could be interpreted in multiple ways? These issues are referred to as a Will Contest (validity) and Will Construction (interpretation). Once a Will is presented to the Court, you have a limited time to bring an action. We represent individuals on both sides of these actions. The sooner you contact Parker Law, LLC, the sooner we can begin gathering evidence to defend or challenge a Will.
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No upfront costs to you or your family. We strive to recover maximum allowable compensation for our clients.
Common Law Spouse
Did you consider yourself the spouse of a decedent but you never “officially” applied for and received a marriage license? Did the decedent die without a Will? Are the children or other heirs of the decedent attempting to exclude you from the probate process? We represent individuals asserting a common law spouse claim and families defending claims asserted by alleged common law spouses. If you are considering a common law spouse claim, do not delay as there is a limited time period to assert a claim. Please note that common law marriage was abolished on July 24, 2019. However, if the common law marriage began before July 24, 2019, you may still have a claim.
Elective Share, Omitted Spouse, Pretermitted Child Claims
If you have been left out of your spouse’s Will, you may be able to assert an elective share claim to receive a share of your spouse’s Estate. If you married your spouse after the execution of your spouse’s Will, you may have a claim for an omitted spouse’s share. Are you a child that has been left out of your parent’s Will? Were you born or adopted after the execution of your parent’s Will? If so, you may have a claim for a pretermitted child’s claim. You have a limited time period to assert these claims. Contact Parker Law, LLC so we can begin determining whether you have a valid claim.
Determination of Heirs
Has more than ten (10) years passed since the Decedent died and you need a determination of heirs? Depending on the facts, Probate Courts are limited as to whether they can consider a Will or appoint a Personal Representative once more than ten (10) years has passed since the date of death. You may still have the ability to have the Court issue an Order Determining Heirs, but it requires filing an action and presenting evidence. At Parker Law, LLC, we can assist with these cases.
Creditor Claims
Are you a creditor that is owed money from a decedent? Asserting a claim against an estate and prosecuting that claim can be a time sensitive and tricky endeavor. In the alternative, are you a Personal Representative tasked with determining how to handle a claim? We represent creditors and Personal Representatives to litigate and resolve these issues.
Actions Against a Personal Representative
Do you believe a Personal Representative is not fairly or properly administering an estate? Are items missing from the Inventory and Appraisement? Are you requesting information and not receiving timely responses? Has the Personal Representative distributed or proposed to distribute assets in an improper manner? We represent heirs in actions against Personal Representatives to protect the heirs’ rights, hold the Personal Representative accountable, and ensure the estate is administered the way the decedent intended. These actions may include removal of a Personal Representative, an action for the Personal Representative to account for all assets, and a demand for a hearing to have the Court decide on a number of other potential issues.
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No upfront costs to you or your family. We strive to recover maximum allowable compensation for our clients.
Limitation/Termination of Parent’s Share
Has a child died unexpectedly due to the negligence of another? Is the child’s estate expected to receive proceeds as a result of litigation? Do you believe the child’s other parent’s share of the estate should be limited? When children pass away, the parents are often the child’s heirs. If one parent has failed to provide support or had limited involvement in the child’s life, you may be able to assert an action to limit or terminate the uninvolved parent’s share of the child’s estate.
Our Columbia estate litigation attorney is knowledgeable about the law and the court process. We have vast experience with validating Wills, interceding with creditors and managing the disposition of assets. Parker Law, LLC is ready to serve you. Call us today.
