## Will contests in California Most wills get probated without challenge. But when a will distributes assets in unexpected or unfair ways, family members and other interested parties may **contest** it — asking the court to declare it invalid. Contests are time-limited, evidence-heavy, and emotionally devastating. ### California filing deadline 120 days from notice of admission to probate. **Worth knowing about California:** California's 120-day window is short — and missing it generally bars the contest forever. ## Who can contest a will ("standing") Only **interested parties** — those who would be affected by the will's validity — can contest. Typically: - **Heirs at law** — those who would inherit under intestacy if no will existed - **Beneficiaries under prior wills** — who lost out under the contested will - **Beneficiaries under the contested will** itself (in some cases challenging specific provisions) - **Spouses and children** — even if disinherited **NO standing:** - Friends, neighbors, or distant relatives without a direct interest - Creditors of the estate (separate creditor procedures) - Charities not named in the will ## Common grounds for contest **1. Lack of testamentary capacity.** The testator (will-maker) lacked the mental capacity to make a will at the time of signing. Required understanding: - The nature and extent of their property - The natural objects of their bounty (typical heirs) - The disposition they're making - How those three connect Capacity is judged at THE MOMENT OF SIGNING — even severe dementia patients can have lucid intervals capable of signing a valid will. **2. Undue influence.** Someone in a position of trust used pressure to bend the testator's will to their wishes. Most common scenario: a caretaker or family member who isolates an elderly testator and arranges new will favoring them. Indicators: - Sudden change in beneficiaries - Disinheritance of natural heirs - Unusual provisions favoring caregiver / accountant / lawyer - Drafting attorney brought by influencer - Testator socially isolated by influencer - Testator dependent on influencer for care - "Suspicious circumstances" generally **3. Fraud.** Including: - **Fraud in the execution** — testator tricked into signing without knowing it was a will - **Fraud in the inducement** — testator deceived about facts that drove the disposition **4. Duress.** Threats or coercion forcing the testator to make specific provisions. **5. Improper execution.** State-specific requirements weren't met: - Witness requirements (typically 2 witnesses) - Witnesses' independence (in some states, witnesses can't be beneficiaries) - Signing requirements - Notarization (where required for self-proving) - Specific formalities for handwritten / holographic wills **6. Revocation.** A later valid will or affirmative act of revocation supersedes the contested will. **7. Forgery.** Outright counterfeit signature. ## Evidence in will contests - **Medical records** of the testator near the date of signing - **Witness depositions** — drafting attorney, witnesses, family, caregivers - **Prior wills** showing patterns of testator's intent - **Communications** — letters, emails, texts showing relationships and intent - **Bank records** — gifts, financial control patterns - **Expert testimony** — geriatric psychiatry, handwriting analysis, drafting standards - **Estate planning history** — prior attorney visits, drafts, consultations ## In terrorem clauses (no-contest) Many wills contain a **"no-contest" clause** — disinheriting any beneficiary who challenges the will. Enforceability varies: - **Strictly enforced** — Texas (with limits), some others - **Enforced unless probable cause** — California, Florida, most modern states - **Not enforced** — Indiana, Florida (has been variable) Even where in terrorem clauses are strict, certain contests (forgery, lack of capacity) are usually exempted. ## Settlement Most will contests settle: - **Family settlement agreement** — beneficiaries agree to redistribute outside the will's terms - **Court-approved compromise** — where minors or disabled beneficiaries are involved - **Mediation** — many courts require attempted mediation before trial Settlement is usually preferred over trial because: - Public airing of family disputes is rare - Trial costs eat into the estate - Outcomes are uncertain - Family relationships can sometimes survive settlement ## What you should do (challenger) If you suspect a will is invalid: - **Act quickly** — deadlines are short and unforgiving - **Hire a probate-litigation attorney** — different specialty from drafting estate-planning attorneys - **Don't act on the will's terms while contesting** — accepting benefits may waive your claim - **Preserve evidence** — medical records, communications, photos - **Get medical records subpoenaed** before they're destroyed ## What you should do (defender) If you're an executor or beneficiary defending a will: - **Hire counsel immediately** when contest filed (estate pays in most cases) - **Don't make distributions until contest resolves** - **Document the testator's competence and free will** — get the drafting attorney's notes, witness recollections - **Consider mediation early** to avoid years of litigation ## What you should do Will contests are time-sensitive and emotionally and financially expensive. Most California probate-litigation attorneys offer paid initial consultations and many take cases on contingency or hybrid arrangements. Get advice quickly — missing the contest deadline forfeits the claim entirely. --- *This guide is general information about California law as of early 2026 and is not legal advice. Will-contest law is detail-heavy and procedural mistakes are fatal. Talk to a licensed California probate-litigation attorney about your specific case.*