WHAT CAUSES A FAMILY DISPUTE OVER A WILL?

When a loved one passes away, the emotions of the entire family will be on edge. Grieving is a very difficult process, and everyone deals with it differently. Therefore, if a will is directed in a way that a certain family member does not expect, reactions can be tense and disputes can arise easily.

If you are dealing with a family dispute over a will, it is important to do what you can in order to resolve this. You can do so successful by firstly understanding how family disputes can arise.

How Do Family Disputes Come About?

Usually, disputes arise when a family member feels that the terms of the will are unfair in some way.

For example, imagine that one adult child of the deceased person acted as a caretaker for their elderly parent, while the other adult children did nothing. When all the siblings are given an equal share of Mom or Dad's estate, it is highly likely to make that child that acted as a caretaker feel like the situation is unfair. Similar things can happen when one child is left more than the others -- even for good reason -- or a child is left out of a will.

How Can Family Disputes Be Solved?

There are many strategies that you can use in order to resolve a dispute. One of the most effective and cost-efficient is family mediation. Through this, all parties may be able to come to a compromise. Otherwise, you may be able to legally dispute the validity of the will. You can also try to show that the will did not reflect the deceased's last wishes.

If you are involved in a family dispute involving a will, it is important to understand the law.