Who has standing to contest probate of a will?

• A. A person whose interests would be adversely affected by probate
• B. A creditor with no potential effect
• C. A neighbor with no interest
• D. The decedent's business partner

Answer: (A)

Standing to contest probate requires a direct, legally recognized interest in the estate that probate could affect. Only someone whose rights or potential inheritance would be harmed or altered by the probate process has the standing to challenge. This is why the best answer is a person whose interests would be adversely affected by probate—they have a real stake in the outcome and thus a right to contest the will or its administration. A creditor with no potential effect has no stake unless probate would impact the creditor’s claim; a neighbor with no interest has none; a business partner would likewise need a recognizable stake in the estate to have standing.