Will Litigation Attorney in Galveston

Probate Litigation for Galveston County Families Since 1987

Will litigation covers legal disputes over the validity or interpretation of a will, situations that are legally and practically distinct from routine probate administration. When someone believes a will was signed under duress, lacks authenticity, or doesn’t reflect the testator’s true wishes, those disputes are resolved in the Galveston County Probate Court, which has its own filing requirements and procedures. We’ve maintained a Galveston office and appeared regularly in that courthouse since founding the firm in 1987. This isn’t appointment-only service from Houston. It’s a permanent, locally rooted presence built around Galveston County families.

If you’re facing a will dispute in Galveston County, time matters. Call us at (409) 239-0100 to discuss your situation and understand your options before the window to act closes.

Grounds for Contesting a Will in Texas

Texas law recognizes four primary grounds for contesting a will. Each requires specific evidence, and understanding which ground applies shapes every decision that follows.

Lack of Testamentary Capacity

A valid will requires that the person signing it understood what they were doing: the nature of making a will, the extent of their property, and who their natural heirs were at the time of signing. When cognitive decline, illness, or medication affected that understanding, a court may find the will invalid for lack of testamentary capacity.

Undue Influence

Undue influence occurs when someone exerts pressure on the testator that overrides their free will and produces a will they wouldn’t have otherwise made. Courts evaluate the totality of circumstances, and this ground typically turns on circumstantial evidence rather than direct proof.

Fraud & Forgery

Fraud in will contests takes several forms. Fraudulent inducement involves false statements that affected the will’s provisions. Fraud in the execution means the testator was deceived about what they were signing. Forgery involves falsifying or altering the document itself after execution. Any of these can support a contest.

Improper Execution

Texas has formal requirements for a valid will, including signature and witness rules. A will that doesn’t meet those requirements under the Texas Estates Code can be challenged on improper execution grounds regardless of its contents.

Standing to Contest

Before any contest can proceed, a threshold question applies: standing. To contest a will in Texas, a person must show they would inherit under a prior will or through intestacy if the contested will were set aside. Children born or adopted after a will was executed who were not provided for may also have grounds to come forward. We can evaluate whether you have standing as part of an initial case review.

The Two-Year Deadline for Will Contests in Texas

In Texas, a will contest must generally be filed within two years of the date the will is admitted to probate. That window can feel long, but waiting creates real risk. Evidence becomes harder to obtain, witness memories fade, and assets distributed during that period are difficult to recover even if the contest succeeds. Consulting a will litigation attorney in Galveston as soon as a dispute arises gives us time to evaluate your standing, identify the applicable grounds, and build a case before the deadline becomes a problem rather than a boundary.

Our Approach to Will Litigation in Galveston County

Will disputes involve deeply personal family dynamics alongside complex legal questions. Before recommending a path forward, we take time to understand the full picture: the family relationships, the estate, the timeline of events, and what outcome you actually want. Our four attorneys bring over seven decades of combined experience to that evaluation.

Not every will dispute requires a full trial. Many are resolved through negotiated settlement once both sides have assessed the merits. Where appropriate, mediation in probate disputes can reduce cost and time while allowing families to work toward an agreement that reflects the testator’s likely intent, without leaving the outcome to a court. We offer in-house mediation services and help families weigh that path honestly against litigation. When a contested proceeding is what the situation demands, we handle that too.

Why Galveston County Families Work with The Law Offices and Mediation Center of Susan M. Edmonson

Susan M. Edmonson is a native Galvestonian who has practiced law here continuously since 1983 and founded this firm in 1987. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization has recognized her legal excellence through Board Certification, a distinction held by fewer than 10 percent of the more than 90,000 attorneys licensed in Texas. That recognition reflects a long-standing commitment to the Galveston County clients she has served throughout her career.

Because we’re a small firm, clients work directly with our attorneys. You aren’t assigned to a paralegal or passed between departments. We keep clients informed at every stage and build strategy around the specific facts of each matter rather than applying a formula.

We also understand that legal fees are a real concern in contested estate matters. Through QuickFee, clients can break service fees into four interest-free monthly installments, making it easier to pursue a legitimate claim without the pressure of a single upfront cost.

Talk to a Will Litigation Lawyer in Galveston Today

If you believe a will affecting your family doesn’t reflect the testator’s true wishes, or if you’ve been named in a will contest and need to respond, we’re ready to help. We serve Galveston and Galveston County, Texas, and we’re accessible when you need us most.

Contact The Law Offices and Mediation Center of Susan M. Edmonson by phone at (409) 239-0100 or reach us through our online contact form to schedule a consultation.