Erie County Inheritance Dispute Lawyer

Get Help Resolving Conflicts and Protecting Family Legacies From a Knowledgeable Inheritance Dispute Attorney in Erie, PA

Inheritance disputes often arise during periods of grief, stress, and uncertainty. Family members may have conflicting understandings of the decedent’s wishes, or strong personal feelings about what is fair versus what the law provides. A knowledgeable Erie County inheritance dispute lawyer can help clarify legal rights and guide families toward meaningful resolutions.

Whether caused by misunderstandings, family tension, or suspected misconduct, disagreements about inheritance require careful legal analysis and a compassionate approach. Alan Natalie, Attorney at Law, handles conflicts over intestacy rights, will validity, omitted heirs, unequal distributions, and allegations of undue influence or wrongful disinheritance with compassion, understanding, and insights achieved through decades of professional legal practice.

A free, confidential consultation allows you to get your questions answered and understand your options. Contact the law firm today to get started.

Intestacy in Pennsylvania: When There Is No Will

When a person dies without a valid will, the estate enters intestacy. Many families are surprised by how Pennsylvania’s intestacy statutes allocate property because the distribution may not reflect the decedent’s personal relationships or spoken intentions. This frequently leads to intestacy disputes.

Under Pennsylvania law, the surviving spouse and children typically receive priority. If neither exists, the estate passes to parents, siblings, and extended relatives in a predetermined order.

These rules do not account for blended families, estranged children, or long-term partners who were never legally married.

When disagreements develop over who inherits in Pennsylvania under intestacy, an inheritance dispute attorney in Erie, PA, can help family members understand their legal rights, verify whether the estate is being administered correctly, and pursue challenges if an heir has been overlooked or an improper claim has been made.

Family Inheritance Rights Under Pennsylvania Law

Inheritance expectations often stem from family dynamics, emotional bonds, or informal promises. However, legal entitlement depends on statutory protections, the presence or absence of a will, and whether that will is valid. Pennsylvania law provides important safeguards against accidental or improper disinheritance, particularly for spouses and children.

Spousal Rights and the Elective Share

A surviving spouse in Pennsylvania is protected from being disinherited. Even if a will leaves little or nothing to the spouse, the law allows the election of a statutory share, which is generally one-third of the estate.

Disputes may arise when:

• There was a late-in-life marriage or second marriage
• Children from prior relationships believe the will reflects favoritism
• The will was updated under suspicious circumstances
• The spouse was separated but not legally divorced

The elective share must be claimed within strict deadlines, making timely legal guidance essential.

Pretermitted Children and Omitted Heirs

A pretermitted child is one born after the execution of a will and not provided for within it. Pennsylvania law presumes such omissions to be unintentional unless the will clearly indicates otherwise. These children may be entitled to a share as though the decedent died intestate.

Other heirs may also be unintentionally omitted, including:

• Children from prior relationships
• Adopted children
• Estranged children who were never formally removed from inheritance consideration

Claims involving omitted heirs often require a detailed analysis of family history, estate planning documents, and the circumstances surrounding the will’s creation. A knowledgeable Erie County inheritance dispute lawyer can evaluate whether a pretermitted child or omitted heir has valid grounds for asserting rights.

Wrongful Disinheritance

While individuals may choose whom to include in or exclude from their will, some exclusions are unlawful or suspect. Disinherited child rights often become an issue when a child or heir believes the decedent’s final estate plan was compromised. Wrongful disinheritance claims can arise when:

• A vulnerable adult was manipulated into changing their will
• A caregiver received an unexpectedly large share
• Family members were isolated from the decedent
• A new will appears inconsistent with long-standing estate plans

An experienced inheritance dispute attorney in Erie, PA, can investigate whether disinheritance resulted from undue influence, coercion, diminished capacity, or fraud.

Challenging the Validity of a Will

Not every will presented to the Register of Wills stands up to legal scrutiny. Some inheritance disputes revolve entirely around whether a will is valid. Pennsylvania courts may invalidate a will if:

• The decedent lacked testamentary capacity
• Undue influence was used to obtain changes
• A signature was forged or the document was fraudulent
• Legal execution requirements were not met
• A later will exists and supersedes the one offered

If the will is declared invalid, the estate is typically distributed under intestacy rules, which may significantly alter who receives property.

Will contests are legally complex and emotionally charged. Family members may find the process stressful, especially when questioned about the decedent’s health, relationships, or vulnerability. A seasoned Erie County inheritance dispute lawyer can assess whether the available evidence supports a challenge and guide heirs through the litigation process.

Fairness vs. Legal Entitlement in Inheritance Disputes

Families often struggle with questions of fairness. One sibling may have provided most of the care to the decedent. Another may feel a stronger emotional connection. A second spouse may believe years of partnership merit a larger inheritance. Adult children may feel blindsided by unequal shares.

However, Pennsylvania law prioritizes legal entitlements, not subjective fairness. Disputes often intensify when:

• A will leaves unequal gifts among children
• Lifetime gifts were given to one beneficiary but not others
• A blended family leads to divided loyalties
• An estranged child is included or excluded
• A sudden new will contradicts prior plans

An experienced Erie County inheritance dispute lawyer can help families navigate expectations, interpret legal documents objectively, and pursue remedies when legal rights have been violated.

Legal Avenues for Contesting Inheritance in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania law offers multiple remedies for heirs and beneficiaries who wish to protect or assert their inheritance rights. These legal tools include:

Challenging Intestate Heir Rights

When someone claims to be an intestate heir without meeting Pennsylvania’s statutory definition, other heirs may challenge that status through the courts.

Elective Share Petitions

A surviving spouse seeking to claim the statutory elective share must file a petition within the required period. Failure to act promptly can result in forfeiture of this right.

Pretermitted Child or Omitted Heir Claims

Children unintentionally excluded from a will may petition the court to receive an intestate share or another legally appropriate portion.

Will Contests

A will can be contested on grounds such as incapacity, undue influence, fraud, or improper execution.

Declarations of Heirship

When family relationships are unclear, such as in cases involving alleged biological children or long-lost relatives, heirs may request a formal declaration of heirship.

Challenges to Wrongful Disinheritance

Heirs may challenge changes to a will or estate plan if they result from coercion, manipulation, or undue influence.

Each of these approaches requires strategic legal evaluation. A skilled Erie County inheritance dispute lawyer can determine the appropriate course of action and advocate for the client’s rightful inheritance.

How Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law Can Help

Inheritance disputes require both legal strength and sensitivity to the personal dynamics involved. Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law provides comprehensive support for individuals facing disputes over inheritance rights, omitted heirs, invalid wills, and wrongful disinheritance.

The firm offers assistance with:

• Evaluating whether a will is legally valid
• Representing spouses seeking elective shares
• Protecting the rights of pretermitted and omitted children
• Contesting wills procured through undue influence or fraud
• Challenging improper beneficiary or asset transfers
• Pursuing claims involving fiduciary disputes or POA abuse
• Addressing disputes arising under Pennsylvania intestacy laws
• Securing declarations of heirship in complex family situations

Whether the conflict involves contesting inheritance in Pennsylvania, unequal distributions, or disputed family relationships, the firm provides steady guidance backed by decades of legal experience and a deep understanding of estate litigation.

A History of Helping Families Fight for Their Rightful Inheritance

In a significant case he previously handled, Attorney Alan Natalie represented a protected individual whose nephew had improperly changed all of her beneficiary designations to benefit himself and another relative without any required court approval.

What began as a seemingly straightforward guardianship matter evolved into comprehensive litigation involving discovery, depositions, a full trial, and ultimately a remarkable, precedent-setting court decision chastising the nephew’s conduct.

The published ruling in the local legal journal underscored that guardians cannot exploit their position to redirect someone’s assets. As a result of Attorney Natalie’s intervention, the self-dealing guardian was prevented from wrongfully disinheriting other beneficiaries.

With his extensive litigation experience, Attorney Natalie was able to handle the matter entirely in-house, achieving a highly impactful result for the client and the community.

Why Choose Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law

Choosing the right attorney can make all the difference in resolving an inheritance dispute, especially when the matter involves complex family dynamics, contested documents, or emotionally charged disagreements.

Extensive Estate Litigation Experience

With decades of experience handling will contests, fiduciary misconduct claims, and power of attorney abuse cases, the firm is among the few in Erie County equipped to manage complex inheritance disputes from start to finish.

A Rare Combination of Trial Skill and Estate Knowledge

Years of trial work, including service as a part-time public defender until 2024, provide the courtroom composure and litigation strength needed to resolve even the most contentious estate cases efficiently.

Proven Results and Published Legal Wins

The firm’s precedent-setting victories in estate and guardianship matters have been recognized in regional legal journals, reflecting a history of innovative and effective advocacy.

Full-Service Support When Disputes Arise

Clients never need to transition to another firm if conflict develops, as Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law handles will contests, beneficiary disputes, POA abuse allegations, and accounting actions entirely in-house.

With this combination of experience, litigation strength, and proven results, Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law offers clients the confidence and legal protection needed during some of the most challenging estate conflicts they may ever face.

Contact Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law Today for a Free Case Consultation About Inheritance and Intestacy Disputes

Disputes involving inheritance can be emotionally draining, legally complex, and time-sensitive. Whether the issue involves omitted heirs, unequal distributions, intestacy concerns, invalid wills, or allegations of wrongful disinheritance, skilled representation is essential. An experienced Erie County inheritance dispute lawyer can provide clarity, advocacy, and a path toward resolution during some of life’s most challenging moments.

For help from an inheritance dispute attorney in Erie, PA, contact Alan Natalie, Attorney At Law online or call 814-622-4511 today.