Basic Questions About Estate Planning – How do I Avoid Estate Conflicts?

Avoiding estate conflicts that might arise after you die or becoming incapacitated is often a primary goal of many people who create estate plans in Florida. An estate conflict is not only potentially expensive, but these kinds of battles can be ruinous for family relationships. Even a simple conflict over who should manage an incapacitated person’s affairs can lead to lifelong mistrust, resentment, and the even the breaking apart of families.

Today we’re going to take a look at some common ways that people can avoid estate conflicts when they create an estate plan. While there is no way to completely eliminate the possibility that a conflict might arise, these simple steps can make them less likely.

Avoid Estate Conflicts by Being Clear and Open

When you create an estate plan, you will be asked to make a variety of choices. Regardless of what your personal wishes or individual choices are, communicating those as clearly as possible, and often doing so openly is typically the best way to avoid subsequent conflicts over your estate. As long as your family knows what you want, even if your desires may not match theirs, will decrease the chances that they might fight over your estate after you become incapacitated or die.

Avoid Estate Conflicts by Planning Early and Often

Another common reason that many estate conflicts arise is because the person who created the estate plan did so when he or she wasn’t healthy, or not at his or her best. If there’s any doubt about the possibility that the person creating an estate plan was capable at the time he or she made it, it can easily give rise to an estate conflict. The easiest way to avoid this possibility is to make an estate plan as early as possible, while there is no doubt you are healthy, and to update or revise it as needed.

Avoid Estate Conflicts by Having a Plan

By far the simplest way to avoid potential conflicts arising out of your death or incapacitation is to make the decision to create an estate plan that protects your choice. The simple act of communicating choices through an estate plan is often enough to reassure your family members of what your wishes are. Having your family members know and understand what your wishes are avoids the problem of your loved ones being unclear about your desires.

On the other hand, should you die or become incapacitated without an estate plan, your family members will be left in the dark. While they all might want what is best for you, conflicts can easily arise out of the circumstances because not everyone will agree on what that is.