Consulting with an experienced estate planning attorney is usually the first step in minimizing the potential for conflict in your estate. A death in the family, unfortunately, does not bring out the best in people.
You’ve probably been part of or witnessed the fallout when someone’s estate incites family arguments. If you want to avoid this for yourself, you need to have a conversation with your lawyer about who you choose to serve as your personal representative.
Doing your part to minimize conflicts over your estate could involve sitting down with an experienced and knowledgeable estate planning attorney who can walk you through the various strategies and tools available to you. This discussion should also include who you plan to appoint as personal representative and how well this person is likely to take over those responsibilities.
Many parents are under the impression that their oldest child should, by default, be the personal representative, even if that person doesn’t seem very well suited for this individual task. If you choose someone who is hardworking, honest, organized, and a good communicator, you can set your beneficiaries up for success when it comes to passing on the assets inside your estate in Massachusetts.
Those who are set up to inherit something are less likely to become suspicious or anxious if you have chosen a personal representative who regularly keeps them up to date with what is going on in the case. Sitting down with a Natick estate planning lawyer can empower you with the tools, strategies, and tactics available to you to help you accomplish your individual estate planning goals without fear of challenges in the future.
