A family member or another interested person can ask a probate court to invalidate part or all of your will or trust after you die. This is called contesting the estate plan, and Illinois law limits who can do it, on what grounds, and how quickly they must act. Clear, up-to-date inheritance and beneficiary planning in 2026 is one of the best ways to reduce the odds that your plan gets challenged. A Kendall County, IL estate planning attorney can review your plan and explain where it may be vulnerable.
What Does It Mean to Contest a Will or Estate Plan?
Contesting a will means filing a formal petition asking a probate court to declare that the document is not legally valid. A person who contests a will must show that it fails on a specific legal ground, such as improper signing, fraud, lack of testamentary capacity, or undue influence.