Article: You might be better off not challenging the will. Absent a valid will, a testator's estate will pass through probate and be divided among the heirs. If you are not an heir, you will not receive anything. Accordingly, you probably should rethink challenging the will. State law varies, but generally an estate is divided between the surviving spouse and the remaining children. If you are one of three surviving children, you would take a third of the estate (provided there is no surviving spouse). If you are unhappy that you only received half under the will, then you might not want to try to invalidate it as your share will decrease. Under this clause, if you contest a will and lose, you will receive nothing. You might be better off just accepting your portion of the estate. Not all states enforce "no contest" clauses. In Michigan, for example, a "no contest" clause will not apply if there was probable cause to initiate proceedings. California also allows no-contest clauses. If you file suit, you almost certainly will want an attorney. Attorney's fees range considerably depending on location. But you can expect to spend upwards of $200 an hour for competent legal representation. You can mitigate cost by doing initial fact-finding on your own. However, you should not expect pro bono representation for a suit challenging a will.

What is a summary?
Calculate what you would receive if the will were invalidated. Check for a "no contest" clause. Evaluate the costs.