Feuding after a death has been common for centuries. However, observers point out that in recent years estate battles have actually grown and more frequent. The trend is noted for all families, both those with sizeable wealth and those of much smaller estates. It is a crucial reminder for residents to take action now to eliminate uncertainty and confusion and ensure in-fighting doesn’t tear a family apart following a passing.
Last week the Telegraph published a story on the topic, pointing to data showing an uptick in legal battles over inheritance disputes. The most common explanation for the change is the recession which devastated many families over the past seven to eight years. One observer explained that in tough economic times, “more people are hoping to receive an inheritance and there can be a great deal of trouble if their hopes are disappointed. People are more litigious in general and more willing to assert their rights.”
Undoubtedly, the recession acted as a spur, influencing some to start a legal fight in order to secure funds that they desperately needed and might assume are owed to them. However, money troubles aren’t the only cause in the change. After all, financial incentives exist even in relatively prosperous times.
Alternatively, the increase in complex family structures may also be at the heart of the rise in will fights. In “traditional” families, there is more obvious expectations about an inheritance, with spouses and children receiving most or all of the property. However, with second marriages, adoptions, and other relationships, those rules do not fit. Without clear estate planning documents in place (wills and use of trusts), then the state is often set for future court battles.
Avoiding Probate Fights
Sadly, in their quest to secure what they believe is owed or protect an inheritance from another, many families find that an estate is exhausted to pay for the legal fight itself. In this way, laying out one’s wishes clearly may not only ensure the right person receives the right inheritance but that there is any inheritance at all. Court costs, attorneys fees, and miscellaneous expenses in litigation is substantial, and most estates cannot afford to bear that expense.
All New Yorkers should be aware of this reality and act now to spare their family the cost and stress of a possible feud. Experienced professionals working on these matters can explain the many different options that exist to secure inheritance wishes and protect it against potential legal challenges.