5 Things to Know Before You Mediate a Probate Lawsuit Palm Beach

Going to mediation in a Palm Beach probate lawsuit?  Maybe there is a will  challenge going to trial in the Delray Beach courthouse, or there is a guardianship matter set for evidentiary hearing in the Palm Beach Gardens probate court.  If you are headed to mediation, consider these 5 things people need to know before they mediate a Palm Beach probate dispute or inheritance lawsuit.

1. Mediation works.  Most experienced Palm Beach probate litigators and retired Palm Beach probate judges will tell you that mediation is the best chance to end your inheritance lawsuit, estate planning malpractice case or your will challenge Jupiter, Florida.  But be prepared: it won’t end in 2 hours or even 4.  It will be all day and many West Palm Beach probate litigation law firms, like mine, have been through so many estate mediations, that some, like us, consider scheduling mediation for two full business days when we think it’s in the beneficiary’s or executor of the will’s best interest.  Mediate. but….
2. Be a Boy Scout: remember their motto…?  Be prepared !  You are going to mediate, ornegotiate how strong or weak the estate lawsuit is.  Fighting over the prenup that yourdad’s 4th spouse signed?  Disagreement over the mansion in Boca Raton or you can’t agree on the revocable trust created by mom with millions in it?  Bring the facts !Medical records for dementia and undue influence cases?  Witness statements or deposition transcripts for fraudulent will cases or forgery of will Palm Beach?  Do you have your damage assessment? What does your best day in Palm Beach Gardensprobate court look like when you try the estate lawsuit?  What’s your worst day in court?  Who pays the probate litigators Delray Beach?
3. Know how good (or bad !) your probate case is. Be realistic. Imagine the possible outcomes of your probate lawsuit over the will codicil or the will contest.   Will challenge Jupiter, Florida?  What are you fighting over?  What % of risk to assign to losing or winning.  Young trial lawyers never think they can lose. Experienced probate litigation lawyers know that judges see things from all angles and may not find credible a key witness or document.  Know your probate evidence: if you can get all the evidence into the record at the probate trial Manalapan.
4. Use mediation, don’t let probate mediation Palm Beach use you.  Don’t get hustled or pressured.  Don’t settle if you don’t want the deal.  Don’t be bullied.
5. Don’t Monday morning quarterback or have convenient amnesia. A deal is a deal !  If you sign a probate mediated settlement agreement at mediation, with a mediator and your lawyer, don’t think you can get out of it.  There was a recent case where a party to aprobate lawsuit mediation Palm Beach tried to, and the probate judge Palm Beach would not let them.  Be careful and don’t try to be sneaky.