If your parent has recently passed away, then there's a chance that they had a will. Your siblings, your parent's spouse or others might have claimed that your loved one's estate is rightfully theirs, and there's even a chance that your parent's will says this. However, if you don't think this is what your parent would have truly wanted, or if you otherwise want to contest the will, then you might be wondering what your next steps should be. This can be an understandably difficult situation for just about anyone, but there is help out there. You can start dealing with the situation by following the advice below.

You May Have Options

If you were left out of your parent's will, you might be disappointed and surprised, but you might not think there is really anything that you can do. However, you might be able to take action. If you think that your parent changed their will while they were under pressure from others to do so, for example, you might have a case. Of course, every situation is different, but it's definitely worth it to contest your parent's will if you think there is a problem with it.

It's Best to Hire a Lawyer

You might be wondering if you can try to contest your parent's will yourself, and this is something that you can try to do. However, you'll probably find that hiring a lawyer is going to be a better idea for these reasons:

• Dealing with this type of situation, particularly while you're still grieving your parent's death, can be incredibly difficult. You'll probably like having someone on your side.
• Will and estate law can be very complicated, and a knowledgeable lawyer is going to have more experience. They can help increase your chances of being successful when contesting your parent's will.
• You may want to avoid arguing with family members or others about your parent's will. By hiring a lawyer, you can avoid having to have these conversations yourself.

You Should Bring Along Evidence

Of course, if you want to have a stronger case -- which can help you increase your chances of being able to successfully contest your parent's will -- then you should bring along evidence. If you have emails or text messages from your parent that might back up your belief that your parent may have wanted you to be their beneficiary, for example, you should provide these documents to your lawyer.

Contact a local lawyer to learn more about contested wills.

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