Any parent knows that sibling rivalries can be intense. Children vie for their parents’ attention and they try to get the upper hand in countless ways. You may even feel that your children simply struggle to ever get along as they grow up.
That may be true, but do not assume that this is going to end when they become adults. In fact, due to distance between adult children and many other factors, some say that these rivalries may only become more intense than they were before.
What does this mean for estate planning?
If you’re doing your estate planning, this is something you want to keep in mind. It could mean that your children are going to get involved in a dispute when you pass away. No matter how you draft that plan, they may contest it just because they do not get along and cannot shake the feeling that the other person is trying to take advantage of them in some way.
If possible, you want to take steps to avoid this type of dispute. You should make a specific estate plan, and you should make it well in advance. You should talk to your children about what the plan includes and what you want. You should attempt to solve any disagreements so that your children aren’t left with no options but to fight with each other.
All of this can get to be quite complex, and you can see how important it is, so make sure you know what legal steps you can take to help with this goal.
