One of the goals of estate planning is to avoid conflict in the family, including a Will contest, after a loved one passes away.

Take a look at the following situations. If any of them apply to you, know that you can take steps now to minimize the chance of a Will contest in the future.

Here are 10 warning signs that there may be family conflict after you are gone:

• There are step-parents and step-children – and you want to be fair to everyone
• You have lent money during your lifetime to one child; or one child has needed more help from you during your lifetime than your other children.
• You plan to leave all or a large portion of your estate to charity or to a non-relative.
• You have a lifestyle certain members of your family don’t approve of.
• You have children who don’t get along – it will get worse after you are gone.
• Your children’s abilities to handle money differ – one is prudent, another is a spendthrift.
• Your extended family members disagree on how your minor children should be raised if you are not there do to so yourself.
• Some of your children work in the family business; others do not.
• One child has moved into your house to take care of you (or has moved into your house because of a financial setback).
• You have family heirlooms and have not left instructions on how they are to be divided.

Every family has its issues. While it may not always be possible to eliminate all conflict, there are ways to structure your estate plan so as to minimize the chance of a Will contest. If any of these situations apply to you, contact an estate planning attorney now to find out what steps you need to take to preserve family harmony in the future.

You may also be  interested in https://galligan-law.com/does-your-executor-know-what-to-do/.