The Howland Will Forgery Trial is a fascinating and now forgotten will contest. The case involved a fortune made in the whaling industry by Edward Robinson. In 1865, Edward died leaving an estate worth almost $6 million. Almost immediately thereafter, his wife Sylvia Howland died, leaving an estate worth $2 million. A niece, Hetty Robinson, …
Author Archives: Robert Bancroft
Will Your Family Contest Your Will?
The Howland Estate is a fascinating historical will contest. This case characterizes the bitter legal battle that can occur when dividing up assets after a loved one dies. For more details about the case, click on the link https://robertbancroft.com/the-most-famous-will-contest/ Although contested wills are not new, they are likely to become much more common in the …
Contesting a Will in Michigan
A will contest (the legal term for challenging a will) is a legal dispute between family members or other people who were close to the person who created the will. It is just what it sounds like: a contest. In one corner is a person who is benefiting from a will or trust. Perhaps the …
Does Jointly Held Property Avoid Probate?
Numerous types of property can be jointly held, including real estate, bank accounts, and just about any asset that you can own individually. When property is owned as “joint tenants with full rights of survivorship,” the property passes to the surviving owner at death. Often, a husband and wife will own property jointly. When one …
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