Interference with Inheritance

In California, if someone intentionally harms a testator (the person making a will) in a way that prevents an heir from receiving their expected inheritance, that heir can sue for damages. This is only applicable if the harm was a direct action against the testator and if the usual probate remedies won't suffice to address the loss.

Alice was set to inherit her grandmother's estate, but her cousin Bob forged a document to change the will in his favor. Alice can sue Bob for intentional interference with her expected inheritance because Bob's actions directly harmed her and probate won't adequately remedy her loss. As a result, Alice successfully recovers damages from Bob.

Don't let others steal your inheritance; protect your rights against interference!

Exams may present scenarios where students confuse interference with inheritance with other torts, leading them to overlook the specific requirement of intentionality and direct harm to the testator.

Questions often involve fact patterns where one party's actions directly affect another's inheritance, prompting candidates to identify whether the interference was intentional and if probate remedies are insufficient.