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How to resolve a stressful inheritance dispute

On Behalf of | Nov 1, 2017 | Estate Planning, Firm News

Nobody wants to get into an argument with their family members about inheritance, especially when simultaneously going through the mourning process of a loved one that has passed away. However, at the same time, feeling as though a relative that you loved and trusted has deceived you or tried to take advantage of you can be an infuriating feeling, bringing about a high amount of anger and stress. Fortunately, however, there are ways in which you can resolve these disputes and move on with your life in a positive way. The following are some of the most common ways for a dispute to arise, and what can be done about them.

A belief that the will was not what the deceased person intended

When a will is announced to all the surviving members of the family, many may be shocked by the outcome, feeling that the details of the will are not representative of the deceased person’s final wishes. This may be because the will was written a long time ago, and that circumstances in the person’s life had changed drastically since then. Whatever the reason, if one person is convinced that the final wishes were not in line with the will, arguments can occur.

Feeling that there is unfairness

If the will of a parent distributes the wealth equally between children, it might be seen by many as fair. However, events in the lifetime of the parent such as giving one child a loan and not another, might have generated a feeling of unfairness between siblings.

Resolving conflicts

Often the most efficient and fair way to resolve an inheritance issue is to seek mediation or trusted legal guidance so that the issue can be put behind all parties involved.

Source: Let’s Make a Plan, “Inheritance disputes,” Oct. 8, 2017

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