Explore 26 court opinions on Probate Law. AI-powered plain English summaries, key holdings, and legal analysis.
26 recent cases analyzed in this topic area.
Texas Appeals Court Affirms Estate Distribution and State's Role
In Re Bruce Wheatley in His Capacity as of the Estate of Judith T. Wheatley, and Tony Aguilar v. the State of Texas, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on April 22, 2026, resulted in a defendant win ou...
Will Interpretation Dispute: Court Affirms Lower Court's Estate Distribution
Grapes, P., Aplt. v. Grapes, L. v. Grapes, P., decided by Pennsylvania Supreme Court on April 21, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the interpretation of a w...
Appellate Court Affirms Estate Asset Distribution Based on Will's Clear Language
Baldwin v. Estate Of: Emma Jean Baldwin, Baldwin, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on April 17, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's dec...
Appellate Court Affirms Trial Court's Estate Administration Decision
Susan M. Simmons, as Personal Representative, Etc. v. Mark A. Simmons, Etc., decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on April 15, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case involved a di...
Appellate Court Upholds Reduction of Attorney's Fees in Probate Case
This case involves a dispute over attorney's fees in a probate matter. Attorney Bergstrom represented a client in a conservatorship proceeding. After the client's death, Bergstrom sought payment for h...
Divorce proceedings can continue after a party's death in Texas.
In the Matter of the Marriage of Ronald Franklin Warren (Deceased) and Karen Ashley Courtney v. the State of Texas, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 19, 2026, resulted in a defendant win out...
Estate Not Liable for Son's Negligent Driving
Woodward v. Estate of Florence Phelps, Williams, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 19, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's deci...
Appellate court affirms will interpretation and estate distribution
James Ralston v. Anthony Ralston, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 18, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the interpretation of a will and the subse...
Son Entitled to Inherit from Father's Estate Despite Prior Disclaimer of Mother's Estate
This case involves the estate of Robert Sizick and a dispute over the distribution of his assets. Robert Sizick died without a will, meaning his estate was subject to Michigan's intestacy laws. His es...
No-Contest Clause in Will Enforced Against Beneficiary's Challenge
Natalie Anderson v. Kyle Anderson, as Independent of the Estate of John William Anderson III, and Kyle Anderson, Individually, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on March 12, 2026, resulted in a defend...
Appellate Court Affirms Modification of Dissolution Judgment
Jill Pardes Wolfson, Etc. v. Andria Pardes, decided by Florida District Court of Appeal on March 6, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The appellate court reviewed a trial court's order that m...
Beneficiary's Motion to Dismiss Did Not Violate No-Contest Clause
Price v. Price, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on March 5, 2026, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The core dispute in Price v. Price concerned the interpretation of a "no-contest" clause in a wi...
No-Contest Clause in Will Upheld by California Court of Appeal
In re Christian V., decided by California Court of Appeal on February 24, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, affirmed a lower court's ...
Will interpretation: 'Jewelry' bequest includes watches and brooches
Katherine York and Tyler York v. Jeannette York, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on February 19, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns a dispute over the interpretation of a ...
No-Contest Clause Interpretation: Declaratory Judgment Not a Contest
In re Estate of Ryan v. Brookdale Zanesville, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on February 5, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved the interpretation of a "no-contest" ...
Will invalidity leads to intestacy distribution of estate assets
In re Estate of Bennett, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on January 30, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Illinois Appellate Court addressed the proper distribution of assets from the...
Executor Breached Fiduciary Duty in Estate Asset Distribution
Monica McCormick, as Independent for the Estate of Sherry Bishop Allen, Deceased; Molly Fox; And Megan Marshburn v. Howard E. Allen, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 21, 2026, resulted in ...
No-Contest Clause Not Triggered by Good-Faith Will Challenge
Maryvel Suday and the Estate of Olga Tamez De Suday v. Jesus Lozano Suday, decided by Texas Court of Appeals on January 14, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. This case concerns the interpreta...
Jointly Held Assets Pass to Survivor, Not Estate, Ohio Court Rules
In re Estate of Ingalls, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on January 12, 2026, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision regarding the distribu...
Creditor denied sale of estate property for insufficient proof of necessity
In re: Estate of Frain, decided by Illinois Appellate Court on December 29, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed the trial court's decision to deny a petiti...
Ohio Court of Appeals Upholds Per Capita Distribution in Estate Case
In re Estate of Wilson, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on December 16, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision regarding the distribu...
Colorado Court of Appeals Affirms Will Interpretation Favoring Specific Bequests
In re: The Estate of Marilyn Kay Willis v. Sabrina Willis, Todd Willis, decided by Colorado Supreme Court on December 15, 2025, resulted in a plaintiff win outcome. This case concerns the interpretati...
Will interpretation: 'Children' excludes grandchildren in estate dispute
In The Matter of The Estate Rex Felten, decided by Iowa Supreme Court on November 25, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The core dispute involved the interpretation of a will and whether a sp...
Will's 'jewelry' bequest does not include antique coin collection
In the Matter of the Estate of Johanna Eleanore Platts v. Debbie A. Platts and William H. Platts. Nicole Estenfelder, individually and on behalf of her minor child, N.C., decided by Colorado Supreme C...
Appellate Court Upholds Probate Court's Estate Asset Distribution
In re Estate of Schwarzbach, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on October 28, 2025, resulted in a defendant win outcome. The Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the probate court's decision regarding the di...
No-Contest Clause Not Violated by Beneficiary Seeking Clarification
Sampson v. Sampson, decided by Ohio Court of Appeals on October 27, 2025, resulted in a reversed outcome. The core dispute in Sampson v. Sampson concerned the interpretation of a "no-contest" clause i...