{"id":123,"date":"2017-11-14T12:48:42","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T12:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wjnlaw.com\/wills-and-probate\/special-needs-planning-copy\/"},"modified":"2017-11-14T21:03:42","modified_gmt":"2017-11-14T21:03:42","slug":"estate-litigation-and-contested-wills","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wjnlaw.com\/wills-and-probate\/estate-litigation-and-contested-wills\/","title":{"rendered":"Estate Litigation and Contested Wills"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wills and Probate<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>

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Staten Island Estate Litigation Lawyer Protects Your Assets<\/h1>\n

Capably dissolving disputes with creditors and will beneficiaries in New York<\/h2>\n

Even the most carefully drafted estate plans can face challenges from creditors and other claimants, as well as disappointed heirs. Since 1997, William J. Newstad, Esq., Attorney and Counselor at Law has managed disputes in the New York Surrogate Court. As attorney for the estate, the estate administrator or a particular would-be heir, our goal is always to assert our client\u2019s rights without causing the estate to lose value through expensive litigation.<\/p>\n

Experience with creditor litigation in New York Surrogate Court<\/h2>\n

The Surrogate Court does not release assets to an estate\u2019s beneficiaries until all claims against it are settled. This can be a complex process, because not every creditor\u2019s claim is valid and the alleged debtor cannot answer for themselves. William J. Newstad, Esq., Attorney and Counselor at Law<\/a>\u00a0independently investigates creditor claims. We negotiate fair settlements of legitimate obligations and vigorously oppose any unfounded demands.<\/p>\n

Challenges to the will or the estate administrator in New York<\/h2>\n

An estate administrator has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the estate to preserve its value before disseminating the assets to the rightful beneficiaries. On occasion, conduct during estate administration can arouse suspicion that the administrator has violated fiduciary duties. We have experience representing beneficiaries of the estate in actions against such administrators as well as the defending trustworthy administrators against false or mistaken allegations.<\/p>\n

Experience litigating various will disputes in New York Surrogate Court<\/h2>\n

Would-be heirs cannot challenge a will simply because the testator disappoints them. There are four main grounds for a will challenge:<\/p>\n