Going through trust litigation after someone they love has passed away is not something that people will look forward to. This process can cause relatives to go at each other’s throats, and this can be highly stressful. No one wants to have to deal with arguments and disagreements, especially when you are going through one of the most difficult times in your life. You are already dealing with a loss; how can you make sure there are no family feuds over an estate?
Have Legal Documents
All of your estate planning and trust documents should be properly prepared. Sometimes a litigation happens because the documents were not prepared and drafted properly. If anyone has any major concerns about someone contesting the documents, then the documents should not be drafted alone. The documents should be customized so there will be no confusion or ambiguity.
Be Sure To Update Your Documents
If you have documents that are old or you have neglected to make significant changes when necessary, you can be setting your family up for major troubles. Your legal documents should be up to date because there will likely not be anything for anyone to contest or be uncertain about. If you need to update the beneficiaries on your life insurance policies, you should do that as soon as possible. If you have divorced and you have not made any updates to your insurance policies, then your ex-husband or ex-wife will still be listed as the beneficiary.
Everyone Needs To Communicate
Litigation typically happens because someone who may have been part of a will or an estate is no longer part of it. People will usually find out that they were either disinherited or they will find out they will not receive what they believed they were supposed to receive. If a family wants to avoid arguments or fights after a death, everything should be talked about ahead of time, before death happens. No one wants to be shocked or surprised by the things they have been told about the trust or estate.
When you take the necessary time to use the advice above, your estate planning can be the difference in keeping your family together or breaking them apart after you have gone. If you would like a consultation to discuss this, contact us.