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Melbourne VIC 3000
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Brisbane QLD 4000
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Canberra ACT 2601
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111 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
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91 King William St
Adelaide SA 5000
Contact Armstrong Legal:
Sydney: (02) 9261 4555
Melbourne: (03) 9620 2777
Brisbane: (07) 3229 4448
Adelaide: (08) 8410 0055
Perth: (08) 9321 5505
When a person decides to contest a will or bring a family provision application, the executor has a duty to defend the will. By virtue of their position, the executor will be named as a defendant to the application and must participate in the litigation to defend the will. This can be a daunting process which can also delay the full administration of the estate.
When defending a will, it is important for an executor to get legal advice about their duties. An executor who does not comply with their duties when contesting a will may face criticism from the court and suffer adverse consequences.
Our team practices exclusively in Wills and Estates Law and are here to guide you through the process to the best possible outcome. If you are an executor and need to defend a will, or if you have a question, we encourage you to call us on 1300 168 676 for a free initial case assessment.
Each State of Australia has a different set of rules which apply when contesting a Will. There are different time limits and eligibility differs in each State depending on where the deceased died. If the deceased died in Queensland, the information below is relevant.
Defending a contested will is one of the duties of an executor. An executor is required to represent the interests of the estate, which means they have a duty to defend a contested will against any applications, including family provision (or contested will) applications. The role of an executor in defending a contested will is to gather and present evidence which protects the interests of the beneficiaries and supports the will being upheld. For example, the executor may be required to collect evidence regarding (but not limited to) the following;
We recommend that if you need to defend a will you seek legal advice about what you are required to do.
Similarly to the obligation of an executor to defend a contested will, an executor, or proposed executor, also has obligations in defending a will challenge. The role of an executor in defending a will challenge is to gather and present evidence which protects the interests of the beneficiaries and supports the will being upheld. For example, the executor may be required to collect evidence regarding (but not limited to) the following;
If you are named as an executor and are involved in defending a will challenge, we recommend seeking appropriate legal advice about what is required to defend a will.
The named executor, or proposed executor of an estate is responsible for defending a will. In the event that an executor does not wish to take up their appointment, there is a list of priority for other parties who may be appointed in their place with the authority to administer the estate. If the executor is the person contesting or challenging a will then another person can be appointed to defend the will.
If you are an executor who receives notice that a person intends to contest the will, you as executor, have a duty to defend the will.
When you receive notice that a will is to be contested, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible and obtain advice about how best to defend the will. It will be easier for your lawyer to provide you with timely advice if you provide them with a copy of the will and any documents found with the will, details of the assets of the estate and a summary of the facts of the matter.
Once you have obtained legal advice, your solicitor will advise you as to the evidence which you will need in order to defend the will. The evidence depends upon the type of claim that you must defend and also the specific facts of your case. The evidence required might include:
Your lawyer can assist you to obtain the evidence which is required.
An executor who is defending a will should advise the beneficiaries that the will is being contested. Your lawyer should be able to assist you with this step.
When an application to contest a will in Queensland is filed in the Court, there is a Practice Direction which applies. A Practice Direction is a document which sets out rules which the parties to a proceeding must follow. The Practice Direction in relation to contesting and defending a will lists the steps that the executor must follow in order to defend the will.
We understand that when an executor receives notice that a will is to be contested, it is often an emotional and stressful experience. It is important that the executor obtains prompt legal advice to ensure that they comply with their duties. An executor should not discuss the case or respond to any correspondence without first obtaining legal advice. When defending a will it is very important that the executor not take any steps to distribute the estate unless they have received contrary legal advice.
If you are an executor facing the prospect of defending a will, or you have a question, we encourage you to call us on 1300 170 288. Most of our work for executors defending a will is done on a deferred payment basis so that our fees are paid directly out of the estate of the deceased and the executor is not left personally out of pocket.
Many executors are concerned about the costs of defending a will. Unfortunately these costs of defending a will can be significant and it is understandable that executors often are unwilling to pay these costs out of their own pocket.
When a person acts as an executor of a will, they are acting as a trustee and they have all of the rights that trustees ordinarily have in relation to the assets of a trust. In particular, executors are entitled to have their proper expenses of administering an estate paid out of the funds of the estate. This is called the executor’s right of indemnity.
If an executor is required to defend a will, the executor’s legal costs of the litigation are usually paid out of the assets of the estate, so that the executor is not left personally out of pocket. This entitlement is subject to the costs being proper expenses of the estate and reasonable in all the circumstances.
In order to rely upon their right of indemnity in relation to the costs of defending a will, the executor should seek legal advice about the steps which they are required to take. It is important that the executor defends the will for the benefit of the people who are entitled to share the estate and that the costs incurred are not excessive.
If you are an executor facing the prospect of defending a will, or you have a question, we encourage you to call us on 1300 170 288. Most of our work for executors defending a will is done on a deferred payment basis so that our fees are paid directly out of the estate of the deceased and the executor is not left personally out of pocket.
Have you been left without adequate provision from a deceased estate? We offer a free assessment of your case and a no win no fee policy. We have a specialist team that deals only in Wills & Estates servicing NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA & WA. The law relating to Wills and Estates can often be complex and confusing so we encourage you to make contact with our team.
Contact Armstrong Legal:
Sydney: (02) 9261 4555
Melbourne: (03) 9620 2777
Brisbane: (07) 3229 4448
Adelaide: (08) 8410 0055
Perth: (08) 9321 5505