Hello,
I had a very rich great, great, uncle who upon dying forsook his family and left the vast majority of his earnings to charity, which was just plain wrong if you ask me. My grandfather was an engineer for him and helped him to make his business successful, he is also in charge of assigning the donations to the various charities. Theres so much money in the account that we cannot touch, not even a single dollar, even though there has been numerous "tough times" we could have used it.
We believe he left the money to charity out of spite because the family had moved out of the state the rich uncle was in, and I suppose they were the only family he had. Anyhow, is there any way possible a will can be "broken" for the benefit of descendants, possible heirs.
Thanks.
2007-11-01 09:17:04 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
P.S. No need for moral proselytizing. What he did would be considered immoral in many societies and illegal in some as well.
2007-11-01 09:35:51 · update #1
You would have to prove that he wrote that will under duress - ie, the charities forced him to. Or that he was mentally incapacitated when he had the lawyers draw it up.
Breaking a will because a man's heirs are greedy isn't done. It was his money to do with as he chose and no, your grandfather (if he is the executor) can't touch money in the account for the family's hard times - he could wind up in jail.
He will however be paid a fee to be executor.
2007-11-01 09:27:58 · answer #1 · answered by dlil 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Not for the reasons you state. When a Will is probated, the court has to follow the wishes of the deceased. Only under the most compelling of circumstances can a will be overriden.
You do not qualify as a compelling circumstance. Find out which charities get the money and ask them for help.
2007-11-01 16:26:53 · answer #2 · answered by regerugged 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can always contest the will, however it is unlikely you will win if he was of sound mind when the will was written. Leaving the money to charity is noble. He earned his money and can do as he pleases with it, in life and in death.
2007-11-01 16:26:05 · answer #3 · answered by smedrik 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not if the will is valid. A person is under no obligation to leave anything to his/her family.
You can contest the will but will have to prove that it is somehow invalid, not easy to do in most cases especially if the will was drafted by an attorney.
2007-11-01 16:21:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It can be challenged in Court - good luck - it was his $ to do with what he wanted.
2007-11-01 16:20:29 · answer #5 · answered by suzanne g 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋