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What happens when there are multiple wills for an estate?

On Behalf of | Mar 11, 2019 | Firm News, Wills |

After the death of a loved one, Georgia family members will review estate planning documents and determine what that individual wanted to do with his or her estate. Often, this means looking at a will to see what the decedent wanted to happen with assets, money, real estate and more. However, this process can become quite complicated when the family discovers there are multiple wills for the estate.

People often change and write new wills over the course of their lifetime. Divorce, a family feud, remarriage and other significant changes can mean that a previous will is no longer applicable. However, there are ways to do this that will render previous wills invalid and eliminate the possibility of complications for loved ones in the future. It is often complex and time-consuming to go back and determine the validity of each will, and it can cause significant stress for beneficiaries.

The validity of a will often depends on the circumstances in which it was written and whether the appropriate number of witnesses were present when signed. Generally, there are two ways to revoke a will after it is written. A person can do this by physically destroying a previous will or including terms in a subsequent will that explain a previous one was invalid. 

Following formalities in the process of drafting wills or revoking a previous will is important. Failure to do this could result in confusion and a complex legal process for beneficiaries. It is in the interests of each person who wants to draft a new will to work with a Georgia legal professional who can help that individual avoid various estate planning problems.