12Law Arrow 12Law Arrow  Easy Questions  
12Law Arrow 12Law Arrow Instant Legal Documents
 
 
FINANCIAL & MARITAL

Cohabitation Agreement coming soon!
Separation Agreement coming soon!
No-Fault Divorce coming soon!
Bankruptcy coming soon!
 
 

How to Prevent Family Feuds over Inherited Properties in North Carolina

How to Prevent Family Feuds over Inherited Properties in North Carolina


Families are forever, and I wondered if the slogan was meant as a promise or a threat.
 
- Brady Udall


Feuds over inheritance can be hard to mend but easy to prevent, if you have prepared earlier for that day when you are no longer around.

That preparation can define the moments when your loved ones, devastated by their loss, will still be speaking to each other after you are gone. Making a will or any type of estate planning documents, can be done at any age. It is never too early. Illness or accidents can occur at any time. Even for young parents, making a will that indicate a guardian for their little ones can be a source of peace that they will be taken care of. Absence of a will, forces the court to appoint a guardian and they might not be familiar enough with the family to select the best person that will have your children's best interests at heart.

Most families behave in a civilized manner. However, when a will is revealed there is a lot at stake and emotions and a sense of entitlement can cause conflict. It's a sad reality, but parents should never assume that their children will behave with goodwill towards each other. The presence of spouses can fuel the feuds even further. They might not have as much of relationship bond with the other inheritors. To avoid these squabbles from happening, you have to get your affairs in order.

Simple Steps to Prevent Future Bickering among Family Members

• Select the Right Executor. Pick someone who is honest and hardworking, well-organized and a good communicator. Parents can sometimes have a preference for the oldest child to be their executor even if he or she is not suited for the job. When picking someone to be an executor, selecting a good communicator that will update the heirs about the events and developments can lessen the suspicions and apprehensions that might be brewing among the family.

• Choose a lawyer that is independent of all the heirs. Choose a lawyer who has no direct connection with any of your beneficiaries. To keep it confidential, visit your lawyer alone, with no beneficiaries present, for maximum privacy. Explain all your concerns and express your wishes freely - whatever and whoever pleases or displeases you. It would help your lawyer to know your honest wishes.

• Avoid Surprises. Surprises can be pleasant or unpleasant among the members of the family. Some may have been pleased with the allocations they were bequeathed and others may be disappointed. These feelings of being slighted or hurt do not mean they are greedy, they are mostly upset by the fact that they will never know the reason that their expectations were not met. These feeling can fuel suspicion and anger. In order to lessen these disappointments, it would be better if they were told, while you are still alive, the reasons behind your final wishes. They may not understand you or agree with you, but the clarity of your wishes can help them come to terms with the outcome.


• Keep all Estate Planning Documents Up to Date. Whenever you have a major life change, update all your estate planning documents, such as wills and/or trusts, and update your beneficiaries. You have to review these documents from time to time, in order to make sure that they reflect your current wishes. Updating your documents can show that you are actively taking control of the process and are not unduly influenced by other people.

• Be Careful with Joint Accounts for Administrative Convenience. Making a family member a co-owner on a bank account for the sake of having someone sign checks or help manage the account are fairly common. This can make the family member a full co-owner of the account with all the rights to keep the money when the original account holder dies. This can be a source of dispute among other heirs because they might expect to get a part of the money in the account. A simple alternative is to appoint someone your trust with a Power of Attorney. This person has legal duty to act on your behalf, including writing checks but won't inherit the money in the account after you pass away.


• Specify the Disposition of Items of Sentimental Value. Personal belongings bequeathed to a number of beneficiaries that has "in equal shares" clause can lead to confusion and bickering among these inheritors. What is an "equal share" and who decides? It may be impossible to distribute equitably. Specifying beneficiaries for each item is one solution. Another is to give the executor the responsibility of dividing the personal effects or make an auction of all items not agreed on.

Planning in advance and following these simple steps can help prevent families from being torn apart and keep family ties close, after you are no longer around.

 
Personalize & Print a Free NC Last Will Create This Document
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
 
Personalize & Print a Free NC Living Trust Create This Document
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Related Legal Services in North Carolina
Parton John S
139 Whittier Depot St
Whittier, NC 28789
(828) 497-9999
Attorneys
Patrick D Riley
404 Broad St W
Wilson, NC 27893
252-281-4999
Tax Attorneys,  Attorneys,  Bankruptcy Law Attorneys,  Financial Planning Consultants,  Wills, Trus
Broadus Georgia Winstead
4109 Wake Forest Rd Ste 203
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 877-9998
Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Ellinger Susan
2840 Plaza Pl # 200
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 785-9998
Real Estate Attorneys, Legal Service Plans, Attorneys
Clarke III Phillip J
503 Cedar St
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-9998
Criminal Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Phillip J Clarke III
503 Cedar St
Beaufort, NC 28516
(252) 728-9998
Attorneys, Criminal Law Attorneys
Psaroudis, Michelle
6101 Carnegie Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28209
(704) 552-9997
Real Estate Attorneys, Attorneys
Darren Cranfill
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct # 4
Clemmons, NC 27012
(336) 766-9997
Real Estate Attorneys, Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
McMillan & Terry PA
301 McCullough Dr
Charlotte, NC 28262
(704) 552-9997
Real Estate Attorneys, Attorneys
Williams Law Firm
87 4th St NW # C
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-9994
Attorneys, Business Law Attorneys, Real Estate Attorneys, Estate Planning Attorneys, General Practic
Forrester Denzil
3325 Washburn Ave # 103
Charlotte, NC 28205
(704) 632-9992
Criminal Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Kassor, Eric H PA
3000 Highwoods Blvd
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 877-9990
Attorneys,  Criminal Law Attorneys,  Family Law Attorneys,  Labor & Employment Law Attorneys,  Divor
Karen Donaldson PLLC
102 Commonwealth Ct
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 461-9990
Personal Injury Law Attorneys, Estate Planning Attorneys, Real Estate Attorneys
Mills Hugh C
121 W Atkins St
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-9990
Criminal Law Attorneys, Attorneys, Legal Service Plans
Ling & Farran
3411 Healy Dr
Winston Salem, NC 27103
(336) 722-9988
Employee Benefits & Worker Compensation Attorneys,  Attorneys,  Business Bankruptcy Law Attorneys,  
Judith Romanowski Law Office
115 E. Main St.
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 286-9983
Social Security & Disability Law Attorneys, Attorneys
Judith Romanowski Law Office
2100 Englewood Ave
Durham, NC 27705
(919) 286-9983
Social Security & Disability Law Attorneys, Attorneys, General Practice Attorneys, Legal Service Pla
Clare Jacqueline R
1011 Vance St
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 755-9979
Attorneys, General Practice Attorneys
Fraser Judith C
1944 Hendersonville Rd
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 650-9978
Attorneys, Employee Benefits & Worker Compensation Attorneys, Social Security & Disability Law Att
Marcari Russotto Spencer PC
1213 Culbreth Dr
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 686-9975
Attorneys, Social Security & Disability Law Attorneys, Accident & Property Damage Attorneys, Persona
H Russell Vick & Associates PLLC
211 S Center St
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 872-9972
Social Security & Disability Law Attorneys, Attorneys, Social Security Services, Real Estate Attorne
James Minick
35 Montford Ave Ste A
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 212-9970
Attorneys
Boyles Law Firm, P
319 N 4th St
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 236-9970
Real Estate Attorneys, Attorneys, General Practice Attorneys
Washington & Associates PLLC
117 Person St
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 364-9966
Accident & Property Damage Attorneys,  Attorneys,  Family Law Attorneys,  Divorce Attorneys,  Civil
12Law.com   |  NASHVILLE, TN USA   |  CONTACT US