When going through the estate planning process, you may take the necessary steps to ensure your wishes are accurately reflected. However, it’s important to consider how your estate will be distributed following your passing. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for familial drama to arise during the Probate process. As such, you may want to take steps to minimize the risk of conflict between your loved ones while estate planning. The following blog explores what you should know about these matters and why working with a Medina County, Ohio estate lawyer is in your best interest during these matters.
Why Does Probate Cause Familial Drama?
When someone passes away, it can cause several emotions to arise in their friends and family after their passing. Members of the family will go through the stages of grief at different times, so it’s imperative to understand that emotions can run high, and in conjunction with the stress of Probate and hurt feelings over inheritances, conflict can arise.
Some family members may be upset that they did not receive certain assets, while others may be upset that certain individuals are included at all in the plan. Additionally, conflict between the estate executor and Beneficiaries can cause more issues to arise.
What Can I Do to Minimize Issues?
If you are worried about conflict plaguing your estate during Probate, understanding your legal options is critical. Generally, one of the best things you can do to ensure this process goes smoothly for your loved ones is to update your estate plan. When someone passes away with an outdated plan, their family members may argue about what they actually wanted versus what is included. For example, if you create an estate plan at age 50 but do not update it to include your grandchildren, remove your divorced spouse, or add a new vacation property, it can create conflict when your assets need to be distributed. As such, you should update your estate plan after a big life event, and review it every few years to ensure it reflects your wishes.
You can also consider adding a no-contest clause to your estate plan. This essentially means that any Beneficiary or heir who tries to contest the Will and is unsuccessful will not receive an inheritance. As such, those who may want to cause issues must seriously consider whether or not it is worth it to do so, thus preventing unnecessary familial drama.
If you want to ensure the distribution of your estate goes as smoothly as possible for your loved ones after your passing, it’s in your best interest to work with an experienced estate planning attorney who can help guide you through these complicated issues. At Krause Law, we will explore your legal options with you so you can make the most informed decisions possible. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you.
