Will-Contest Rules by State
Deadlines and no-contest rules vary dramatically. Pick your state. Florida, California, and Texas are verified against the cited statute; others give the universal framework with an honest "confirm locally" flag.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Contest-a-Will Navigator is a self-help research and document-preparation tool. It is not a law firm, does not represent you, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. Will contests are litigation with strict, unforgiving deadlines and real risk. Verify every detail against your state's current statutes and court rules, and consult a licensed probate attorney before acting.
All states & DC
✓ = deadline + clause rule individually verified against statute.
🚨 Get a probate attorney before you file if any of these are true
- The estate is large or complex (real estate in several states, a business, trusts).
- There is a no-contest clause AND your state may enforce it — losing can mean losing your inheritance.
- Your grounds are capacity or undue influence (these need medical experts and discovery).
- You suspect forgery (you will need a handwriting/questioned-document expert).
- The deadline is near, unclear, or may have passed.
- Honestly: almost every contested will involves litigation. A free or low-cost consult is worth it before you commit.
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