{"id":36802,"date":"2021-10-20T15:18:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-20T09:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/?p=36802"},"modified":"2021-10-20T15:18:29","modified_gmt":"2021-10-20T09:48:29","slug":"legal-grounds-for-challenging-a-will-in-a-court-of-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/legal-grounds-for-challenging-a-will-in-a-court-of-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal grounds for Challenging a Will in a Court of Law"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The last Will of an individual refers to a legal document which encloses details regarding\u00a0the inheritor,\u00a0executor of the Will, and time for property transfer among the concerned beneficiaries. There is no legal compulsion to register a will in India, but it acts as strong legal evidence as per the Indian Registration Act. The general bylaws also allow an Indian citizen to Challenging a Will authenticity through a legal proceeding.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Page Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/legal-grounds-for-challenging-a-will-in-a-court-of-law\/#Legal_Significance_of_Will_and_Probate_of_a_Will\" >Legal Significance of Will and Probate of a Will<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/legal-grounds-for-challenging-a-will-in-a-court-of-law\/#Practical_Grounds_on_which_one_can_challenge_the_Will\" >Practical Grounds on which one can challenge the Will<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/legal-grounds-for-challenging-a-will-in-a-court-of-law\/#Key_points_to_remember\" >Key points to remember&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/legal-grounds-for-challenging-a-will-in-a-court-of-law\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_Significance_of_Will_and_Probate_of_a_Will\"><\/span>Legal Significance of Will and Probate of a Will <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The term \u201cWill\u201d serves as a non-legal document that\nhighlights testator\u2019s intention concerning property distribution after his\/her\ndeath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, it is vital to secure <a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/probate-of-will\"><strong>probate of Will<\/strong><\/a> for immovable property. This is usually done after the demise of the will-maker or testator. Probate serves as a copy of the Will authenticated by the court of law.\u00a0The court will seek objections from the concerned family members before granting the probate. In case of nil objections, the court accords the probate &amp; the Will receives the legal status and hence comes to effect.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"shadow1\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> A Will should exist in the written form and should enclose the testator\u2019s signature. The testator must approve the Will in the presence of two witnesses. Also, a will must serve a specific time period to secure legal status. It\u2019s worth noting that new Will is less likely to receive the court\u2019s approval in India.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/all-you-need-to-know-about-probating-a-will\/\">All You Need to Know About Probating a Will <\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_Grounds_on_which_one_can_challenge_the_Will\"><\/span>Practical Grounds on which one can challenge the Will <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In\ngeneral, it can be daunting to challenge a will. Interestingly, majority of the\nwills pass through without encountering any legal proceeding. Seen by the court\nof law as the testator\u2019 voice, which is no longer there to confront the\nproceeding, courts stick stringently to wills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But,\nthat doesn\u2019t imply that challenging a Will is an impractical affair. The law\npermits the Indian citizen to challenge the Will on the following grounds: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Absence of testamentary intention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A will can be disputed in a court if it can\nbe proved that the will-maker has not intended to prepare a Will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Absence of testamentary capacity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the general bylaws, only adults\n18 years or above qualify as a Will creator as they possess the testamentary\ncapacity. To legally oppose the Will on the ground of lack of mental\nwell-being, one must be able to prove that while preparing the Will, the\nconcerned person was unaware of is a repercussion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An individual having testamentary capacity\nwill comprehend the value &amp; nature of his\/her assets and the legal effect\nof signing a will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Absence of knowledge or approval<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The knowledge &amp; the consent of the\nwill-maker are naturally presumed when it is known that the will-maker or\ntestator has the required testamentary capacity. But, a will could be\nchallenged in the court if it is proved that it was prepared under unlikely\ncircumstances where the will-maker was unaware of the details enclosed in the\nWill.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fraud, forgery or wrongful influence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A will could be challenged if it is proved\nthat it was prepared by forgery, fraud, or criminal influence by an outsider\nthat overpowers the Will to bargain because of the manipulator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The individual challenging the Will is\nobligated to prove that the will-maker could have been deceived into signing\nthe document if it was prepared as a result of any deceitful act.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Revocation: Claims by family<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A relative of the will-maker could contest\nthe Will if it is proved that they were not provided for adequately in the\nWill. According to the bylaw, the family head is accountable for the\nmaintenance of certain close relatives cited in the Hindu Succession Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can claim in the relevant court of law\nseeking for provision to be made for them out of the estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is recommended to consent to the Will as early as possible to prevent its execution. If the court\u2019s <em><strong>judgment<\/strong><\/em><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Judgment_(law)\"><em><strong>[1]<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/sup> favours the person challenging the Will, then the Will would be tagged legally invalid, and the distribution of property shall take place as per the court\u2019s direction. This distribution revolves around intestacy laws &amp; is guided by familial relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improper Execution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A legally valid will must be in written form\nenclosing the signature of the will-maker and two witnesses. Will that lacks\nsuch requirements shall stand invalid in the eye of law.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_points_to_remember\"><\/span>Key points to remember&nbsp;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>A will prepared by Hindu,\nBuddhist, Sikh or Jaina is regulated under the Indian Succession Act, 1925<\/li><li>Every individual with a healthy\nstate of mind qualifies as a Will creator as per the law. This also encompasses\nphysically challenged individuals having no mental issues.&nbsp;<\/li><li>An insane person is legally permitted\nto prepare a will, however, only when his\/her mental condition is stable.<\/li><li>A will cannot be prepared in\nthe state of illness or intoxication, where the will-maker cannot make rational\ndecisions.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The Will should clearly\nmanifest the will-maker\u2019s intention regarding obtaining legal status for the\nWill. The Will is said to be invalid as long as the testator serves his\/her\nlife. It will only receive legal status after his demise.<\/li><li>Oral wills are legal in limited\nstates and under specific circumstances. They usually seek a presence of fear\nof demise &amp; they can be utilized only to transfer personal assets.<\/li><li>The difference between a Probate &amp; a Will\nis that will serves as a document that set forth an individual\u2019s desire\nconcerning the property distribution among the relatives after his\/her demise,\nwhile a Probate act as a true copy of a Will that encloses the court\u2019s seal.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Challenging a Will is certainly a practical affair that can be done in view of grounds as mentioned. Keep in mind that the burden of proof is on the person challenging a Will in the court of law. In case of a legal dispute, such individual should provide concrete evidence during the legal proceeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/probate-of-a-will-meaning-significance-and-applicability\/\">Probate of a Will: Meaning, Significance, and Applicability <\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The last Will of an individual refers to a legal document which encloses details regarding\u00a0the inheritor,\u00a0executor of the Will, and time for property transfer among the concerned beneficiaries. There is no legal compulsion to register a will in India, but it acts as strong legal evidence as per the Indian Registration Act. The general bylaws [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":36861,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[272],"tags":[1997],"acf":{"service_id":"287"},"authorName":"Pankaj Tyagi","authorImageUrl":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/MicrosoftTeams-image-42.jpg","authorDescription":"Pankaj has a diverse experience of writing research papers, blog, and articles during his college time. Earlier, he was working as a tax consultant in a financial firm, but his interest in writing drives him to pursue a career in the writing field.","postViews":7069,"readingTime":4,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36802"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36802"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36871,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36802\/revisions\/36871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/corpbiz.io\/learning\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}