Estate Litigation Cases in Columbia, SC

South Carolina Elder Law

When an elder enters their gray years, they must both begin to plan their estate and be acutely aware of individuals who would like to manipulate them for selfish means. Far too often, our Columbia elder law attorney, Ms. Carrie Warner, has seen cases where elders are taken advantage by the persons closest to them or other interested parties. The results are often disastrous, including the complete dismissal of the elder’s wishes when they pass away, if nothing is done to correct the matter promptly.

We proudly assist clients with contested estate litigation cases throughout South Carolina. When you have our 15+ years of legal experience in your corner, you can feel confident that your matter will be addressed appropriately and moved towards the right solution for you and your loved ones. Give our team a call at 803.994.8171 or fill out an online case evaluation form at your earliest convenience to begin.

Why You Should Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer

State Laws Govern Estate Plans

Most people aren’t familiar with the ins-and-outs of South Carolina’s estate planning laws. With more than 15 years of experience, Carrie Warner Attorney at Law is an expert when it comes to what can and can’t be in a will, settling estate litigation disputes, establishing power of attorney and more.

Family or Financial Situations Can Be Complicated

You could need the counseling and advice of an experienced estate planning attorney for a number of reasons, including having a second (or later) marriage, owning a business, having children and more.

If you choose not to hire an attorney, the state’s department of revenue and/or the IRS could end up inheriting the majority of your estate.

You Can Avoid Estate Litigation Disputes

Hiring a lawyer to plan your estate now can prevent you from needing one to settle legal disputes later. Using forms found on the internet or a DIY book to prepare estate planning documents could later result in your beneficiaries hiring an attorney to fix any mistakes.

Whether you are just starting to plan your estate now or in the middle of a contested litigation case, Carrie Warner Attorney at Law is here to help.

Assistance for Your Estate Litigation Case

Estate litigation covers a sizeable amount of laws, regulations, and guidelines. Therefore, legal counsel is advised. Specific matters related to estate litigation cases include:

• Will contests
• Breach of fiduciary duties
• Conversion of assets
• Professional malpractice
• Will preparation
• Establishing powers of attorney
• Drafting healthcare powers of attorney
• Outlining financial directives

When you are entering an estate litigation dispute, make certain that your choice of legal counsel will be able to handle any and all aspects and problems that could arise in your case. Our team can be there for you from start to finish, regardless of the simplicity or severity of what is going on in your case.

With our legal counsel, you can reach conclusions in matters pertaining to:

Will contests: If a will is contested during probate, you will likely need civil litigation to end the matter and decide on how the will should be interpreted.

Breach of fiduciary duties: Personal representatives or trustees to an elder’s estate are permitted special responsibilities, or fiduciary duties, to help manage it. When they do not act in the best interest of the testator, they have breached their duties and caused a legal concern for everyone else.

Conversion of assets: Dishonest parties will do what they can to gain a profit from an elder’s will or passing. We can protect your elder’s estate from financial exploitation, even if it means we must take the matter to court.

Professional malpractice: With as many professional services you have likely retained to maintain a will, trust, or estate of your elder, you must be aware that some professionals may not act in your best interests, or act out of malpractice.

We can also provide additional legal services related to estates, including:

Will preparation

Establishing powers of attorney

Drafting healthcare powers of attorney

Outlining financial directives

Today Should Be the Day You Get Started

It’s never too early to start planning your estate. U.S. News & World Report recommends planning your estate in your 20s. Making these decisions as early as possible (with guidance from an experienced legal counsel) can stop problems from arising later.

Already dealing with a legal dispute? Putting off necessary estate litigation is not any way to resolve the matter you are facing. You should instead choose to take the initiative and retain the services of a legal team you can trust and depend on. Columbia Elder Law Attorney Carrie Warner can provide such services and much more so you can take your mind off the legal intricacies of your case. Contact our firm today and we can explain what we can do for you in your estate litigation case in more detail.