Can I contest a will after the estate has been distributed?

Yes and no. If you file your claim within the required time frame and inform the executor or administrator of your intention to contest the will, you can request the court to recover the distributed assets.

Although the court has the authority to order beneficiaries to return funds or assets, there is no certainty that these orders will be followed. For example, if beneficiaries have squandered the money or are insolvent, recovering the assets may be impractical.

In such cases, the executor or administrator who distributed the estate may be held personally responsible for satisfying any court order in your favour, assuming they have sufficient personal funds.

However, if your claim is submitted after the deadline and the estate has already been distributed, it is unlikely that you will receive a favourable ruling from the court.