The events that follow a loved one’s passing can be charged with stress and emotions, especially when it comes time to wrap up their estate. Even families that normally get along well often experience conflict over the contents of a will. As such, it’s essential to take certain steps during the estate planning process to help minimize the chances of a disagreement arising among your beneficiaries once you’re gone. Here are a few tips for avoiding inheritance disputes.

How to Prevent Conflict Over Your Will 

1. Don’t Continue to Put Off Estate Planning

Many people make the mistake of believing that estate planning is only for the older generation. In reality, the best time to write your will is when you’re still young and healthy. This will ensure your document is already in place should life take an unexpected turn. Being proactive also helps to prevent any suggestion that you were not of sound mind or under duress when creating your will. These are two accepted grounds for disputing a will.

2. Include Specific Instructions for Personal Effects 

When deciding how your assets should be distributed, address everything you own. It’s common for people to focus on possessions with known value, such as real estate, cars, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts, and neglect to leave instructions for their personal effects.

However, jewelry, antiques, artwork, and stamp collections can mean just as much to your loved ones for their sentimental value as for their monetary valuation. Thus, not making it clear who you want to receive which items can lead to conflict.   

3. Keep Your Will Updated 

Estate planning is rarely a one-time task. As you go through different life changes and milestones, your will must be regularly updated to correspond with your most recent circumstances. Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, increases and decreases in assets, and out-of-state moves are all reasons to review your document and revise it accordingly. Failing to do so can result in your assets ending up in the wrong hands after your death, causing discord between beneficiaries. 

If you need assistance drafting and executing a valid will, turn to the legal team at Lein Law Offices. They’ll work closely with you to create a comprehensive estate plan that accurately reflects your final wishes and protects your loved ones. For more than 30 years, they’ve been helping families throughout Winter and Hayward, WI, successfully achieve their unique estate planning goals. Call (715) 634-4273 to schedule a consultation or visit them online to learn more about the services they offer.