Helping You Navigate Disputes –Tough Or Tender
We develop our estate and disability plans to avoid disputes. We are highly successful in doing so, especially for clients actively monitoring and updating their plans with us. Wool Landon says: do it right. Because doing it right avoids disputes.
Disagreements between beneficiaries and fiduciaries, and among family members and charities are a frequent occurrence. They are more likely to arise if the will, or the trust, is poorly written, or very old, and when the decedent died intestate (without a will or revocable trust). Lack of liquidity in the estate or plan is also a common source of conflict.
If it wasn’t done right, then Wool Landon helps our clients “be right.” Wool Landon’s probate and trust litigation team represents executors, trustees, beneficiaries, fiduciaries and other parties in trust and estate disputes in Oregon and Washington.
Our team brings litigation skills and courtroom experience to issues that cannot be resolved amicably. We have decades of experience, and we know the ins and outs of the process. Although the outcome of any litigation is uncertain, our lawyers carefully provide good news, bad news, analysis, and strategy, so our clients make informed decisions. We can be very tough when we know you are on the right side of an issue and you want the proverbial “bulldog” lawyer.
An estate dispute occurs when beneficiaries disagree over how the estate is administered. Sometimes it is a Will or Trust contest, where one or another person claims that the document fails because the decedent lacked competence or was unduly influenced by a caretaker, a friend, beneficiary or family member. Many other issues may arise during the probate or trust administration process. Even more issues arise between guardians, conservators, agents under powers of attorney, and family members, especially when disability documents are not prepared with care and kept up to date.
We can help you or your families evaluate your unique situation to determine the next steps.
Wool Landon handles a variety of trust and estate disputes, including:
- Wrongful death claims
- Trust Contests and Trust Administration Disputes
- Will Contests
- Probate Disputes
- Elder and vulnerable persons financial abuse
- Guardianship, Conservatorship, and other fiduciary disputes
- Enforcement of disability document
- Fiduciary disputes that include lay and professional trustees, personal representatives, guardians, and conservators
Mediation, Dispute Resolution And Litigation
When facing a probate or trust dispute, we try and resolve the issue informally through negotiation and mediation, especially when the dispute is between family members. Litigation requires a judge to step in and help resolve the dispute in court. This can be a longer and more expensive process than dispute resolution. Litigation can also be more difficult emotionally when between family members. Because of this, we may recommend trying to reach amicable settlements before resorting to probate court. Not all disputes can be resolved through alternative dispute resolution methods. When this happens, our experienced litigation team is ready.
Work With An Experienced Probate And Trust Litigation Attorney
Probate litigation comes with high stakes, both financially and emotionally. Wool Landon will fight tirelessly to protect your interests. Contact us at 503-925-5174 or online to schedule a consultation.