After 28 years+ of experience settling estates and trusts, I could tell many stories about family disputes over an inheritance. Even in families that otherwise seem perfectly functional, things can get weird very quickly after the death of a patriarch or matriarch. Of course, these dynamics keep me in business as a neutral third party trustee/personal representative or as an expert witness.
Mark Accettura has a book out, Blood & Money: Why Families Fight Over an Inheritance and What to do About It. I couldn’t agree more with Mark’s assessment as to the reasons families go at each other when dad dies. Read his recent article on the subject here:
Idaho Trustee 