My brother and I are long distance caregivers for our 88 year old mother, but because I live closer, I do more hands-on things for her. During my last visit my mother told us that she needed to update her will. I called an estate planning attorney and was surprised that he wouldn’t give me an appointment. He told me to ask my mom to call to make the appointment, although I told him that she specifically asked me to do this for her.
I'm trying to do as much for our mother as possible. Is this normal, or should we find another attorney? Steven F., Chicago, IL
It appears that you received sound legal advice. In most situations a will simply has to be signed, dated and witnessed by two individuals over age 18 for a court to accept it.However, if somebody challenges the will and can show that the decedent did not have the capacity to know what he or she was doing at the time they signed the will — or that he or she was under "undue influence" from someone else — then the court may reject the will.
Mr. Sands added that not only would he have your mother call him directly, but that he would also ask for time alone with her when meeting to sign the will. That way he could talk to her and take notes of his conversation, which would remain in his file in the event that the will is ever challenged — and to show that your mother had full capacity and that there was no undue influence.