Fighting Over The Will? Talk To A Manassas Estate And Trusts Litigation Attorney

Disagreeing with family members or friends about a loved one’s estate or trust adds pain to an already difficult situation. Your loved one is gone. Now, those they were close to can’t come to terms with the terms of their estate plan, will or trust.

At Bristle Schulze, our attorneys treat you with compassion as we build a plan to resolve your legal conflict. We understand that a fight among relatives is something no one wants to face, but sometimes it must be done to honor a loved one’s final wishes or protect an inheritance for you or your children. Our attorneys have the estate law background and the courtroom experience to mount a strong, assertive case for you. But we also match our approach to your unique circumstances, applying only as much pressure as needed to encourage results that match your goals.

If you live in or are dealing with an estate located in Manassas or anywhere in Northern Virginia, please call our office at 703-278-2027 to arrange a consultation on your case. We assist clients with estate-related litigation that includes:

• Contested wills
• Contested trusts
• Guardianships and conservatorships
• Challenges to estate planning documents such as powers of attorney
• Partition lawsuits to determine property division
• Fiduciary lawsuits related to guardianship, conservatorship or exercise of powers of attorney

Our estate and trust litigation team is led by attorney Cloyd Allen Smith, who has dedicated his practice of law to representing clients in civil matters, specifically in estate-related conflicts.

Why Hire A Litigator For A Trust Or Estate Dispute?

You might wonder why you need a trial attorney for an estate-related conflict. After all, couldn’t the attorney who set up the will or trust handle the case? Wouldn’t they know the documents best?

Technically, an estate planning attorney could represent you … but there are many reasons to consider an attorney who focuses their practice on litigating estate and trust matters.

Courtroom Experience Matters

It takes a special kind of attorney to thrive in trial situations. Attorney Smith, who served as a U.S. Army officer before attending law school, has excelled throughout his professional life in protecting those who need an advocate and a fighter on their side. He began representing clients in court using his third-year practice certificate during his last year of law school. During that time, he successfully prosecuted seven bench trials in Arlington General District Court.

Prior to joining our firm, attorney Smith worked for another firm, concentrating on business litigation and estate/trust litigation cases. Within a year of beginning his practice in estate litigation, he secured a victory at the Virginia Supreme Court. The case, Anderson v. Boyle, 301 Va. 52, 871 S.E.2d 226 (2022), involved the question of whether a trust is a contract that is subject to mandatory arbitration. He successfully argued that the trust beneficiary could not be forced to take their conflict against their will to arbitration.

Diligent Investigation Matters

Each of our attorneys thoroughly investigates the case before them, whether it comes to trial or not. Attorney Smith looks carefully at the original estate or trust documents created on behalf of your loved one, looking for opportunities to advance your position. He often finds legal details the estate planner may have missed or discovers actions that the estate planner took that may have been done without full appreciation of the consequences. Taking the time to do a full discovery process in your case ensures that you will go to court – or head to the negotiating table – with all the facts available. This enables him to assemble a compelling argument for your rights.

Negotiating Skill Matters

As noted above, pursuing a full investigation of facts helps attorney Smith find leverage and represent you in mediation or negotiations from a position of strength. Settlements can save you precious time and money; they are best pursued by an attorney like Smith, who can adjust his tactics, from kind requests to full-court assertiveness, as circumstances change.

Preserve Your Family Legacy With The Litigator Who Is Ready To Fight For You

If you need to carry forward the legacy of your loved one in the courtroom, talk to the Manassas estate and trusts litigation attorney with the practice area knowledge and the trial-tested biography to do it right. Call our office at 703-278-2027 to request an appointment or send a message through our online form. Our firm works with clients from across Northern Virginia.