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Estate Litigation Lawyer Serving Plano

Are you dissatisfied with the way someone handled your late relative’s estate? Is there a dispute with a family member, executor, or administrator you can’t seem to resolve yourselves? If so, contact Staubus and Randall right now. We might be able to represent you in your case and try to reach your desired outcome.

Losing someone you love doesn’t cause only emotional pain but also legal and financial responsibilities. You’re suddenly faced with making funeral arrangements and administering their estate according to their final wishes. You could experience difficulties receiving the assets left to you if someone else believes they deserve them instead. Or you might think the executor of the estate didn’t distribute your loved one’s property correctly and that you need to take them to court.

estate litigation lawyers

No matter what issue arises, you need an experienced and dedicated legal team on your side to guide you through the litigation process. With over 100 years of combined legal experience, the Plano estate litigation lawyers of Staubus and Randall can handle even the most complex estate administration matters. We have the resources and knowledge to create the right strategy to challenge the validity of a will, protect your rights to certain assets, or represent you in another estate issue.

Learn more about our estate litigation services and what we can do for you by calling us at 214-691-3411 today for a confidential consultation.

 

Table Of Contents

    Why You Need to Hire an Estate Litigation Lawyer

    Handling estate-related matters can be complicated. If you’re not familiar with state laws and your rights during the administration of your relative’s estate, you could end up without the assets you deserve. Going through each step without an experienced lawyer by your side will likely lead to various obstacles you don’t know how to overcome.

    Determining how to pursue a case against another person for mismanaging an estate can be an uphill battle. Whether you want to contest a will or prove kinship to the deceased, you should have an estate litigation lawyer in Plano, Texas, to guide you through every step of the legal proceedings.

    Staubus and Randall understands how contentious estate administration can become between surviving family members upon the death of a loved one. Disputes regarding the distribution of assets, breach of fiduciary duty, or another legal issue can divide a family and spark a legal battle. If you have to take your case to court, you should reach out to us to determine what your legal options might be.

    Estate Litigation Matters Staubus and Randall Handles

    At Staubus and Randall, our Plano estate litigation lawyers take on a range of estate administration cases, including:

    Claim by a Creditor

    A creditor could come after the estate if your loved one had debts they hadn’t paid off yet at the time of their death. A claim could delay the process of receiving the assets left to you in the will and distributed to additional beneficiaries. Staubus and Randall could help you dispute the creditor’s claim if you’re the executor or administrator of the estate or one of the named beneficiaries.

    Beneficiary or Heir Dispute

    It can be a shock when someone you were close to dies, and you discover they didn’t leave any of their assets to you. You might feel as though you are entitled to something from their estate.

    You could pursue a case to receive the property that is rightfully yours. However, you will have to prove how you’re related to the deceased, a task that can be a challenge. Your estate litigation lawyer in Plano, TX, can assist you with your kinship dispute and obtain the available evidence to show you have rights to the deceased’s assets.

    Contesting an Invalid Will

    You can contest a will if you have doubts about its validity. The range of grounds you can choose from when filing your case include:

    Breach of Fiduciary Duty

    Any executor, trustee, or administrator of an estate has a fiduciary duty to administer the deceased’s estate according to their final wishes and ensure the named beneficiaries receive the assets passed down to them. A breach of fiduciary duty occurs when the person responsible for estate administration acts in their own best interests over the interests of the deceased and the estate’s beneficiaries.

    commingling estate funds

    Common examples of a breach of fiduciary duty include:

    • Commingling estate funds with personal funds
    • Distributing a particular asset to themselves instead of the intended heir
    • Ignoring strict deadlines for time-sensitive matters regarding management of the estate

    Additional estate litigation matters Staubus and Randall can take on include:

    Estate Litigation Frequently Asked Questions

    It’s natural to have questions about the estate litigation process. It’s often a complex and time-consuming legal matter to handle. Most people don’t know the steps they need to take to resolve a dispute within the family or contest a will included in a loved one’s estate plan.

    When you hire Staubus and Randall, you will have an estate litigation lawyer in Plano, Texas, to assist you with every legal aspect of your case. You will be in excellent hands and have an advocate fighting by your side until the end.

    Below are answers to some of the most common questions clients ask us. This may help you prepare for your case or for your consultation with us.

    Will I have to bring my case to court?

    Not necessarily. You could avoid a trial if you and the other party can resolve the dispute through mediation. Many judges require family members to mediate their issues before proceeding with a court case.

    Both sides meet with their attorneys and a mediator to resolve the matter at hand during mediation. Whether you have conflicts over the validity of the will, the distribution of property, or another disagreement with the estate, a third party could help.

    Do I have to follow a deadline to contest a will?

    Yes. You have two years from the date the will goes to probate to contest it. However, it might be best to pursue your case before the probate process begins.

    Probate involves a judge reviewing and validating a will upon a person’s death. If a judge validates the will, it will be more difficult to dispute whether the contents are valid and enforceable.

    Can any family member contest a will?

    According to state law, only an interested person can contest a will. That means you must be one of these parties in relation to the deceased:

    • Creditor
    • Heir
    • Spouse
    • Devisee
    • Another person with a claim against or right to administration of the estate

    Contact Staubus and Randall

    You can face significant legal and financial obstacles as an administrator, heir, relative, beneficiary, or executor. The Plano estate litigation lawyers of Staubus and Randall have the knowledge, resources, and skills to find a solution to your estate matters that meets your needs.

    Call 214-691-3411 or complete our contact form online for your confidential consultation if you have a problem with how another person handled your loved one’s estate.

    The Firm

    The attorneys at Staubus and Randall have over 100 years of combined experience in estate planning, probate, and litigation. We have the knowledge and skills to tackle complex legal issues, such as guardianships, will contests, fiduciary litigation, and trust litigation. We can also handle routine matters, such as estate administration, probating wills, heirship determinations, and other probate court matters.

    Staubus and Randall received a preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating possible from a peer-rated legal service. This rating recognizes our hard work, dedication, and the case results we’re able to achieve.

    Staubus & Randall Team

    What Our Clients Say

    "I recently had the occasion to hire Mr. Staubus for a hotly contested Guardianship matter. Mr. Staubus brought a rare combination of effectiveness, reasonableness and understanding of the human element involved. Mr. Staubus handled all things in a calm, highly competent, effective and reasonable way. It could not have been as easy as he made it seem. He's a credit to the Bar."

    Jody

    "Before retaining the guidance of the Staubus & Randall firm, I was at my wit's end trying to close an uncle's estate as a co-executor. In addition to dealing with difficult heirs, I had other pressing business issues coming up immediately on estate land in the middle of the Eagleford Shale including dealings with pipeline, seismic, oil & gas, and construction companies. The local bank also refused to give me access to information relating to the estate. This quickly became the most stressful and desperate time in my life...and then I found Joseph Legere who truly became my guardian angel. He was able to get all issues resolved efficiently and the estate fully closed. His professionalism, immense legal knowledge on a wide variety of topics, and amazing communication skills took the burdens off of me and quickly got closure. I am forever indebted to this firm for giving me my life back."

    Martha

    "Without exception, the legal service, professional attitude, prompt communication of your firm and your legal knowledge is second to none. I only wish I had an attorney here in Boston that could hold a candle to your experience and expertise. Working with you has been a pleasure, but even more, has made me believe that there are knowledgeable attorneys that do care about doing a good job. Thank you Keith! You may not truly understand how much of an impact you are having on peoples lives, but for me, you have helped change my life. As I begin making my dreams come true I can't help but remember none of this would be possible without you."

    Joann

    "Keith Staubus and Julie Blankenship and their team represented me in a jury trial in the probate court where the ownership of the business which I had worked hard to build was at stake. They successfully fought to preserve my business and my professional reputation, working masterfully to gain the support of the jury. I would not hesitate to hire them again in any bet-the-company litigation.”

    Karen

    "I have required legal representation twice in my life in two separate will contests. Both times I sought assistance from Keith Staubus and Staubus/Randall. Their service, approach, and determination to obtain results exceeded the other attorneys in each case. Mr. Staubus has always come across as genuine while being direct. He gets the process done in a timely manner with results. I will certainly use him again when and if any new challenges arise.”

    David

    "After my husband's death, I was devastated by having to defend against a vicious dispute over my husband's estate. Julie Blankenship and Keith Staubus made me feel very comfortable in this distressing situation. They were very tough and did an excellent job for me in obtaining a summary judgment in my favor without a full jury trial. I was glad to have them and Diane Walker in my corner to help me achieve an excellent result - I won! If I ever had to go back to probate court, I would hire them again.” - (will and trust construction case)

    Flo

    "If you need intervention for someone you love but don't know where to turn or who to turn to, Julie Blankenship and Keith Staubus helped me through the most difficult and stressful time in my life with a much loved family member. I now believe that good will triumph over evil. They fought for what was right, and good prevailed." (contested guardianship and will contest)

    Janet

    "As a professional money manager, I have used Ryan Randall's estate planning services both personally and for my clients. Ryan has exhibited three critical attributes in his work with me: (1) high intellectual capacity, (2) exceptional thoroughness, and (3) a total commitment to integrity. In today's litigious world, it can be quite costly not to "get things done right.” An added bonus to us was that we found one of the nicest people we could imagine.”

    John

    "I was represented by Keith Staubus as an income beneficiary in a lawsuit with the trustee of a family trust. Utilizing the expertise of a forensic accountant and his own trust expertise, Keith was able to negotiate a judicial modification of the trust providing for the buyout of my income interest for a substantial lump sum payment out of the trust, resulting in a win-win situation for all of the parties. I highly recommend Staubus/Randall for any trust disputes and trust modification actions."

    Kathy

    "I have been a wealth management specialist and retirement plan consultant with the Dallas/Fort Worth financial community for over 20 years. I have engaged Ryan Randall to work with a number of my best clients over the years, including business owners, professionals and families. My clients always appreciate Ryan’s straightforward approach to estate planning, asset protection planning and business succession planning. He makes even the most sophisticated estate planning strategies understandable."

    Larry
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