My elderly mother has recently passed away.
My father died years ago and an older sibling, who lived with them, became my mother's carer, as she had dementia...although died from cancer.
Both my mother and father had the same will originally, leaving the deceased estate to each other, and if / when both were deceased, the estate divided between 3 children.
Several years before she died, a grandson convinced mum to change her will and leave the entire estate to him. When my older sibling found out, he then convinced mum to change her will yet again, leaving the entire estate to him.
Now previously I would never have considered challenging a will. But I believe my mother now potentially coerced into changing her will on both occasions when she was vulnerable and did not have the functional capacity to do so.
My older sibling is single, does not own a home and is on a pension. My sister and I, married, own our own homes, but also on pensions. My older sibling had cleared my mother's bank account and finances long ago and therefore I had no alternative but to pay for mum's funeral expenses on credit as I had organised it.
My older sibling has said that he will sell the estate as he does not have the capacity to maintain it, in all probability would look for a small flat. Yet he would be disadvantaged financially if the estate was divided x 3, simply as his options would be limited, the estates value less than half million, fewer costs, etc.
I have not sighted the will but assume it will go to probate.
Can anyone tell me what my legal rights are regarding this absolute travesty? Is it worth contesting a will if it was to create such contention?
My father died years ago and an older sibling, who lived with them, became my mother's carer, as she had dementia...although died from cancer.
Both my mother and father had the same will originally, leaving the deceased estate to each other, and if / when both were deceased, the estate divided between 3 children.
Several years before she died, a grandson convinced mum to change her will and leave the entire estate to him. When my older sibling found out, he then convinced mum to change her will yet again, leaving the entire estate to him.
Now previously I would never have considered challenging a will. But I believe my mother now potentially coerced into changing her will on both occasions when she was vulnerable and did not have the functional capacity to do so.
My older sibling is single, does not own a home and is on a pension. My sister and I, married, own our own homes, but also on pensions. My older sibling had cleared my mother's bank account and finances long ago and therefore I had no alternative but to pay for mum's funeral expenses on credit as I had organised it.
My older sibling has said that he will sell the estate as he does not have the capacity to maintain it, in all probability would look for a small flat. Yet he would be disadvantaged financially if the estate was divided x 3, simply as his options would be limited, the estates value less than half million, fewer costs, etc.
I have not sighted the will but assume it will go to probate.
Can anyone tell me what my legal rights are regarding this absolute travesty? Is it worth contesting a will if it was to create such contention?