Will Contests in Pennsylvania

At Chadwick Estate Law, our experienced attorneys represent clients throughout Pennsylvania—including Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties—in will contests and disputes over estate validity. Governed by the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code (20 Pa.C.S.), these matters require skilled legal strategy to protect your inheritance rights or defend a valid will.

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Grounds for Contesting a Will

Chadwick Estate Law handles all major types of will contests in Pennsylvania, including:

  • Lack of Testamentary Capacity
     The testator did not understand their assets, beneficiaries, or the nature of the will at signing (e.g., due to dementia, illness, or cognitive decline).

  • Lack of Testamentary Intent
     The decedent did not intend the document to serve as their final will (e.g., it was a draft or executed under misunderstanding).

  • Undue Influence
     A trusted person manipulated or coerced the testator, producing an unnatural distribution (often involving caregivers or family members in confidential relationships).

  • Insane Delusion
     The testator’s irrational belief (e.g., false suspicions about relatives) directly affected the terms of the will.

  • Fraud or Forgery
     The will was falsified, altered, or signed under false pretenses.

Why Will Contests Matter

Engaging skilled legal counsel for a will contest offers key advantages:

  • Protects the Decedent’s True Intentions – Ensures that fraud, coercion, or incapacity does not override genuine wishes.

  • Secures Your Inheritance – Prevents assets from passing under an invalid will or through manipulation.

  • Ensures Compliance with PA Law – Confirms that wills meet statutory requirements (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502).

  • Facilitates Resolution – Provides options for mediation, negotiation, or courtroom litigation.

  • Meets Strict Deadlines – Ensures contests are filed within the narrow timeframes permitted under Pennsylvania law.

How We Help Clients in Will Contests

At Chadwick Estate Law, we manage all phases of will contests, including:

Evidence Gathering

  • Collecting medical records and expert testimony on capacity.

  • Securing witness statements on intent, influence, or execution.

Legal Filings

  • Filing objections with the Register of Wills.

  • Pursuing proceedings in the Orphans’ Court.

Representation in Disputes

  • Litigating claims of undue influence, fraud, or forgery.

  • Negotiating settlements when litigation is not in the client’s best interest.

Enforcement of Outcomes

  • Ensuring proper redistribution of assets under intestacy or a prior valid will if the contest succeeds.

Why Will Contests Matter

Engaging skilled legal counsel for a will contest offers key advantages:

  • Protects the Decedent’s True Intentions – Ensures that fraud, coercion, or incapacity does not override genuine wishes.

  • Secures Your Inheritance – Prevents assets from passing under an invalid will or through manipulation.

  • Ensures Compliance with PA Law – Confirms that wills meet statutory requirements (20 Pa.C.S. § 2502).

  • Facilitates Resolution – Provides options for mediation, negotiation, or courtroom litigation.

  • Meets Strict Deadlines – Ensures contests are filed within the narrow timeframes permitted under Pennsylvania law.

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FAQs

  • Only those with legal standing.

  • Through medical records, testimony from witnesses, and evidence of mental decline at the time of signing.

  • Evidence of manipulation in a confidential relationship that resulted in an unnatural estate plan.

  • Yes. Many cases resolve through mediation or family settlement agreements.

  • The estate is distributed according to intestacy laws or a prior valid will.


CONTACT US

Protect Your Legacy with a Plan You Understand
Call 215-277-0888, email Bass, or fill out this form to get started.

Call: (215) 277-0888

Email: bass@chadwickestatelaw.com

Office: Wayne, PA