When someone passes away, fights might break out about inheritances and who should get what. You can try to prevent family disputes by making an estate plan of your own. When you make a plan you get to tell your family exactly what you want to do with your assets. There’s no confusion and that should mean that there is less room for conflict. A Rockland County estate planning attorney from our firm can help you get started.
Can Talking About Estate Planning Reduce the Chance of Family Disputes?
First of all, talking about your estate plan with your loved ones can do a lot to reduce the chance of family disputes breaking out after you are gone. When your family knows that you have thought everything through and taken the time to make a plan, there could be less chance of someone trying to challenge your will later.
Talking about your plan with your family members can also let them know what to expect. If everything is out in the open, it may be easier for people to accept things. If someone doesn’t know about your plans and ends up being surprised by them when you pass away, their grief and shock could make family disputes more likely.
How Can an Estate Plan Itself Help You Avoid Family Disputes?
The estate plan you make can also help you avoid family disputes because it makes your wishes clear. When you take care in making a plan, and our experienced lawyers help you, there won’t be any ambiguities. What you want to do will be concisely and transparently laid out. It’s harder to challenge that or fight with others when there are few questions about what the deceased wanted.
There are also estate planning tools, like trusts, that can be used to make family disputes less likely. A trust doesn’t have to go through probate, so it can be more private. Money can also be doled out over time, reducing the chances of anyone fighting over a big lump sum.
What If I Experience a Falling Out With a Family Member Anyway?
Another good thing about your estate plan is that it is not set in stone. If you have some reason to change your plan, like a falling out with a family member who would have been a beneficiary, you can make the appropriate edits.
We recommend that you give your estate plan a review every year or so, just to make sure that it still reflects your wishes. It can also be a good idea to make some changes after any major life events, like a divorce, remarriage, or the birth of a child.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
When you are ready to learn more about the benefits of estate planning, contact the Lauterbach Law Firm. We can schedule a consultation and tell you more about your options and the best way to protect your assets.
