Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Iowa
I signed off for a one time settlement on my fathers estate via my step mother and her lawyer seeing a though I had no offical documents of interest other than the will itself, but a year later I discovered after going through my file cabinet, a document my father sent me in 1997 indicating my brother and I are to share a vehicle and a trailer by selling it and splitting the net. I called step mothers lawyers office who is handling the will, twice, but they aren't returning my call and after having left a clear message about what I needed . I do not feel that 'her lawyer' would act in my best interest, and though I signed off on the will , I feel I should be able to make that signing void or open the willl make up for modification from me in the interest of this new document my father sent me which clearly indicates I was t make sure and have it part of his will. I sadly forgot about it in my grief, so is there anything I can do ?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Your father would have had "to make sure and have it part of his will." You are correct that your step-mother's attorney is not acting in your best interest--your step-mother's attorney has a duty to zealously represent your step-mother, not you. If you feel the will should be contested, you would need to hire an attorney to represent you. Your best bet would be to hire one in the county in which the estate is being probated.