Real Answers for Life’s Money Challenges
My mother died this past year.
I wasnt even invited to the reading of the will.
How do I legally challenge my sisters?
But today, no state requires a reading of a will.
But it doesnt sound like that happened here.
Of course, its also possible that one or both of your sisters are hiding something.
All of this is speculation.
Or that they stole money from your mother while she was still living.
Another possibility is that your mother updated her will and didnt include you as a beneficiary.
Sometimes people do this for personal reasons.
But unfortunately, sometimes family members manipulate older people into changing their will to get a bigger inheritance.
This is a common reason for challenging a will.
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Im curious whether youve actually seen a copy of the will.
For example, if you believe your sister mishandled funds, you may need accounting statements.
But at the very least, you could confirm whether you were a beneficiary.
Im not sure whether youre currently in contact with your sisters.
Id consider it a red flag if she hesitates or claims she doesnt have any records.
If your sister wasnt the executor, ask her for the source of the information.
I have no idea whether you have grounds to legally challenge your sisters.
But yo dont delay meeting with an attorney because youll have fewer options as time passes.
Each state has different rules, but you typically have a limited amount of time for doing so.
Be warned that probate challenges can be expensive and difficult to win.
Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.
Send your tricky money questions to[email protected].
