Sibling disputes over residual assets: key principles explained

My father willed specific assets to my mother and me, and said any unspecified assets would go equally to my sister and me.

- Shaishavi Kadakia & Sachi Shah

My mother died earlier without a will, and my father didn’t update his. We’ve now discovered a piece of land not mentioned in the will. My sister is claiming a share in that land and in my mother’s portion of other properties. Is she entitled to it? What are my options?

-Name withheld on request

Your sister seems to make two claims: one over the land not specifically bequeathed in the will, and another over the properties left to your mother. A full answer would require reviewing the entire will, but the key legal principles are outlined below.