What Are the Key Reasons for Contesting a Will in Perth, and How Can You Do It?

June 6, 2025    Deceased Estate Lawyers Perth
What Are the Key Reasons for Contesting a Will in Perth, and How Can You Do It?

The legal process to dispute a will remains challenging yet becomes necessary when someone believes that the testament violates principles of fairness or presents legal problems. You possess the right to challenge a will if you think it defies the departed person’s actual desires or shows unjust treatment towards yourself. Knowledge about legal grounds for contesting a will in Perth, together with procedural steps, gives you a chance to achieve a reasonable conclusion.

Key Reasons for Contesting a Will

Several specific legal bases exist according to WA (Western Australia) law, which allows people to challenge a will. The most common reasons include:

1. Lack of Testamentary Capacity

The testator’s right to write and sign a will gets challenged when medical evidence shows a loss of their capacity to understand both the details and implications of this process. Common issues include:

  • Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Mental illness or cognitive impairment.
  • Undue influence from others.

The will becomes invalid when evidence demonstrates that the testator lacked sound mental capacity during the time of will creation.

2. Undue Influence or Coercion

A will must be made voluntarily. If someone applied undue pressure or guarded the testator from exercising true wishes, it could be a basis for contesting the will. Will Contest Lawyers in Perth will assist in obtaining evidence to prove this.

3. Fraud or Forgery

A will that has been altered, forged, or created fraudulently is invalid. Some instances include where someone:

  • Signed on behalf of the testator.
  • Altered the contents of the will after it had been signed.
  • Misrepresented the facts to the testator.

Fraudulent wills can be challenged in court through proper legal means.

4. Failure to Meet Legal Requirements

Western Australian law requires specific requirements for a will to establish its validity. This includes:

  • Being in writing.
  • The signature must be authentic since the testator performed it in front of two witnesses.
  • The witnesses who sign as testators must not receive benefits through the inheritance.

The contesting a will in WA may result in success when any of the required formalities fail to be satisfied.

5. Family Provision Claims (Inadequate Provision)

Family members and dependents can file a legal challenge against a valid will because the benefits given to them seem unfair or inadequate. Eligible claimants may include:

  • Spouses (including de facto partners).
  • Stepchildren and adopted children, together with biological children, make up the group of individuals who can contest a will.
  • Financially dependent individuals.

Under the Family Provision Act 1972 (WA), a family member possesses grounds to contest a will when they receive insufficient financial support in the testamentary documents.

How to Contest a Will in WA

If you believe you have grounds for contesting a will WA, follow these steps:

Step 1: Obtain a Legal Opinion

Before doing anything, consult with Will Contest Lawyers in Perth about your situation. They will advise you as to whether you may have a sustainable claim and walk you through the legal process.

Step 2: Confirm Whether You Are Eligible

Not everyone can contest a will. Those who have the right to do so typically include:

  • Spouses or de facto partners.
  • Children or stepchildren.
  • Dependents who relied on the deceased for financial support.
  • Persons indicated in prior wills.

If you are none of these, then your claim will likely not succeed.

Step 3: Collect Proofs

Strong evidence is crucial to support your claim. This may include:

  • Medical records evidencing the mental state of the testator.
  • Testimonies from witnesses.
  • Documents evidencing financial dependence.
  • Earlier versions of the will.

Step 4: Submit a Legal Claim

It is important to lodge a claim in the Supreme Court of Western Australia within six months after the probate grant for formal challenging of a will. Missing this deadline may mean that the right to contest the will is lost.

Step 5: Negotiation and Mediation

Many disputes will find resolution in the negotiation or mediation process but not in court. A good lawyer, working on behalf of a party, can negotiate and settle fairly without long court proceedings.

Step 6: Court Proceedings (If Necessary)

If no resolution is reached, however, the case will go to court. A judge would then go through all of the evidence to rule on whether the will should be enforced, amended, or declared invalid.

In Summary

Contesting a will is a serious legal matter that takes a great deal of consideration. If you feel you have been wrongfully excluded, suspect foul play, or simply think the testator lacked capacity, you have the full right to pursue the matter. Consider contacting an expert Deceased Estate Lawyer in Perth concerning contesting a will WA so that your rights are upheld and your matter is worked upon professionally.

If you perform the necessary legal steps, you can contest an unfair will and get your rightful inheritance.

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