Commercial truck mogul reportedly signed several wills

A 79-year-old man built a lasting legacy with more than 100 commercial truck centers throughout 22 states, including California. W. Marvin Rush, II, was the founder of the largest truck chain on the North American continent. When the stock market closed for the day on a recent Friday, shares for Rush Enterprises were worth nearly $74 million. W. M. Rush, III, the decedent's son, as well as his third wife (his son's stepmother) are fighting over the shares, each referencing wills the decedent is said to have signed.

Rush's son says his dad left the shares to him when he signed a will in 2006. However, Rush's widow, who also happens to have been his third wife, claims he signed two additional wills several months apart in 2013, which revoked the 2006 will. She also says that her husband never specified in either 2013 will who was to get the shares of his company.

Rush's widow explained that the shares would be part of his residual estate, to which she is the sole beneficiary. Her stepson is not taking that news lying down, however. He claims his father suffered from dementia and was not of sound mind when he signed the 2013 wills. His stepmother refutes that assertion, saying there was nothing wrong with her husband's mind at any time, much less when he signed his last will.

It is unfortunate when families fight over wills. Such disputes are not isolated to wealthy business owners' families; in fact, there may be California residents facing similar problems at this time whose deceased loved ones were neither rich nor famous. Anyone wishing to discuss a particular probate problem may reach out for support from an experienced estate administration attorney.