A Guide to the Process of Estate Litigation

Disputes can arise over the administration of a probate estate. 当涉及一大笔钱或幸存的家庭成员之间发生家庭冲突时, disputes are more likely to occur. Estate litigation can arise between a trustee and a beneficiary, between multiple beneficiaries of a will, or between heirs of the deceased at law. 

Some estate litigation involves third parties. 当冲突无法解决时，就会在法庭上提起遗产诉讼. However, the conflict will not go to trial immediately. 在法官审理你的案件之前，财产诉讼涉及多个步骤. We will discuss the process of estate litigation below.

Stage 1: Research and Investigation

房地产诉讼程序的第一步是确定冲突的性质和当事人. As mentioned above, there are many different types of estate and probate litigation. 当你在亚博网赌靠谱的第一次见到这些经验丰富的房产诉讼律师时, we will ask you for as much information as possible. 我们想深入了解有争议的遗嘱或信托. 

我们会要求你从对方当事人或他们的律师那里获得任何相关的沟通, such as emails or letters. 我们还需要任何能帮助你的证人的姓名和联系方式. After your initial consultation, 我们会坐下来，开一个长时间的会议，更好地了解情况，并提出问题来测试你的情况. 在这一阶段，我们还将进行更多的法律研究，以制定最佳策略.

Stage 2: The Pleading Stage

Lawsuits officially start when one person files a pleading. 在房地产诉讼中，最初的诉辩状通常被称为上诉状. 向法院提出第一个申诉的人被称为请愿人. 呈请书将概述案件的事实和使呈请人有权获得金钱、损害赔偿或其他救济的法律. The petitioner may ask the probate court to remove a trustee, appoint a conservator, or invalidate a last will and testament. 如果你在诉讼中被起诉，你会收到一份诉状副本. 你将有机会对请愿书作出回应，否认其中的指控，并反对请愿人的请求.

Stage 3: Discovery

The discovery process is crucial in estate litigation. 每一方都将试图获得他们可以在法庭上承认的证据，以证明自己的立场. 每位律师都会要求对方填写书面的发现问题，即所谓的审讯. The lawyers will also depose witnesses under oath. 律师也可以要求对方出示相关文件，要求对方提供相关文件. The lawyers can object to certain types of discovery. 发现过程可能会持续很长时间，特别是在复杂的情况下.

Stage 4: Mediation

In many California probate courts, 法官将命令当事人去调解，鼓励他们庭外解决案件. 在调解过程中，一个中立的第三方将试图帮助当事人解决案件. The mediator does not rule on the case like a judge, but evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each party’s case, relays demands and settlement offers, and may propose solutions that the parties did not think of. If the mediation is successful, 当事人可以签订和解协议进行庭外和解. 即使双方不和解，他们仍然可以谈判直到审判开始. 

Stage 5: Expert Witness Depositions

Most estate litigation cases require expert testimony from witnesses. Suppose someone is challenging the will, claiming that another person used undue influence over the decedent, pressuring him or her to change the will. 质疑遗嘱的人可以请神经精神病学家或神经心理学家提供有关死者心智能力的专家证词. Both sides typically present expert testimony.

Stage 6: Trial Preparation

如果当事人仍未和解，律师将开始庭审准备工作. During trial preparation, 双方的律师将决定向法庭提交哪些证据. 他们还将准备在法庭上盘问证人，并撰写开庭陈述和结案陈述. 特别是由于冠状病毒大流行，法院提前很久就被预订了. The trial date may be a year or more away. 对律师和他们的当事人来说，庭审准备工作可能非常耗费精力.

Stage 7: Trial

Most estate litigation cases take place before a judge and not a jury. 然而，如果有人挑战托管权，案件可以在陪审团面前进行. 在简单的案件中，审判可能需要一天，在复杂的案件中可能需要几周. Both lawyers will present evidence, 证人证言，并提供开庭陈述和结案陈述. 当事人可以决定在审判前立即和解，也可以在审判期间和解. Going through a trial can be a complex process, 但亚博网赌靠谱的(Law Office of Daniel Hunt)经验丰富的律师可以帮助你处理房产诉讼，并为即将发生的事情做好准备.

Stage 8: Appeal

如果你在初审法院败诉，你可以向加州上诉法院上诉. 大多数人不上诉遗产诉讼案件，上诉胜诉的可能性不大. 然而，有些案件需要上诉，我们可以帮助您确定您的案件的最佳策略. 

Contact a Skilled Estate Litigation Lawyer

The estate litigation process is confusing, 特别是如果你以前从未卷入过遗嘱纠纷. At the Law Offices of Daniel Hunt, 我们经验丰富的遗嘱认证律师可以帮助您处理复杂的遗产诉讼领域. 我们将仔细倾听您的情况，并回答您的所有问题, so you understand what the process will look like. 我们也会保护您的合法权益，为您积极奔走. 今天就亚博网赌靠谱的萨克拉门托的遗产规划律师事务所，安排您的初步咨询.

Law Offices of Daniel A. Hunt

The Law Offices of Daniel A. Hunt is a California law firm specializing in Estate Planning; Trust Administration & Litigation; Probate; and Conservatorships. We've helped over 10,000 clients find peace of mind. 我们的客户遍及大萨克拉门托地区和加利福尼亚州.