When somebody passes away, one of the most common discussions is that of inheritance of the estate. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the reasons for infighting within the family. Being the owner of the estate, you would want to stop those quarrels when they happen, but how can you do that if you’re dead? You can take care of the problems early on by preventing them from occurring instead. Try considering these pointers and putting them into action. Your family’s unity may very well depend on it.
Thoroughly Prepare Your Will
One of the biggest reasons family members fight over who gets what is that there are no clear directions as to what to do. Drafting a well-written will provides them with a guide for what will happen to your funds and land. Be sure to cover everything, including what will happen to any money borrowed from you, as well as jewelry and other heirlooms. Consult a lawyer expert in wills in Townsville to be sure about it.
Consider Relationships
Even with a written will, matters can still go awry within the family. For example, one of the members might think that another doesn’t deserve to be included on the list of receivers. They might not be close to the person in question at all, or the receiver may be considered as one of the so-called “black sheep.” While you’re drafting your will, try to think of how the family will receive it. Are they going to take what’s in it without question? Or are they going to contest it?
Avoid Biases
As much as possible, you should distribute your estate evenly among the people who will receive it. One of the reasons family members fight over is arguing why someone shouldn’t have more than the rest. It’s almost as if they’re kids who will throw a tantrum if they see that their sibling has more than they do and ask to get more. If you’re going to make someone receive more or better, then you should have an absolutely good reason for it.
Be Open with Decisions
Yet another reason families argue over the inheritance is that members expect to receive certain things but end up getting something else. For example, one may be expecting that the family business will go to them because they have worked hard; instead, it has been given to another one. Yes, surprises are great, but they fail to be when it comes to the matter of inheritance. As you’re making your draft, it is wise to let the people involved know of your decisions as well as changes when it comes to its contents.
Your will is perhaps the most precious document that you can write and sign for your family members. While there may be times when they can’t help arguing over it when the time comes to read it, making it will generally give them some peace of mind. At least now they’ll know who gets what when you pass away. Since this is the case, you should take the time to get yours written.