Houston Texas Estate Planning Blog

While conflict is a natural part of many family units in Texas, there are certain situations when unsolved disagreements can wreak havoc on relationships that could end up causing long-term damage. Estate planning for one is a topic that can be met with angst and hesitation by some family members and is also one that can create ongoing conflict even after the death of the person who created the plan. 

Reducing familial conflict is critical to a person's ability to guarantee that the estate plan he or she has curated will be executed according to the vision that was had while it was being written. According to cnbc.com, three of the largest culprits of family contention, after a person passes away, are the following:

• Unmet expectations that were unrealistic and misunderstood in the first place. 
• The drama between certain family members or parties that have created strong opinions about who should receive what.
• Poor communication that ultimately leaves family members with conflicting information that causes confusion and frustration. 

Your loved one has recently passed away and other family members are beginning the process of executing the deceased's estate plan in Texas. Learning that you were not named in his or her will despite the connection you had to the deceased, as well as the relationship you maintained throughout the years, can be incredibly challenging and saddening. At Doehring & Doehring Attorneys at Law, we have helped many people prepare for probate. 

If you are dissatisfied with the fact that you have not been named in the will and would like to contest the terms and conditions outlined in the will, you can certainly do so. Forbes describes several critical tips to give yourself the best chance at having a successful outcome as you continue through probate. One of the challenges you may face is the necessity to make decisions in a timely manner. Procrastinating or taking too long to reach an agreement on certain factors will only prolong the process and may compromise your ability to have a say in what happens. 

The probate process can present various challenges, but the impact of a dispute can be especially difficult for families. Unfortunately, these disagreements often lead to hostility among family members, and in certain circumstances, they can amplify existing challenges within a family. For example, a longstanding sibling rivalry may be magnified when a probate dispute surfaces. Even when siblings have maintained healthy relationships for decades, these relationships can be strained or even shattered when a dispute over a loved one's estate comes into the picture.

Sibling rivalries may occur when brothers and sisters are unhappy with how an estate has been divided between them. Or, one sibling may be given authority over an estate, and their other siblings may be unhappy with how they have managed these affairs. If you have been given these responsibilities, you may find that your brother or sister is upset and even jealous. In some instances, people may falsely accuse a sibling of mishandling an estate, while others may have a misunderstanding over any number of estate-related matters.

When you are informed of the declining health of one of your family members in Texas, whether from a progressing condition or an unexpected accident, preparing for his or her death can be incredibly challenging. While coping with someone's death is never an easy feat, there are things that you can do to hopefully ease the emotional turmoil you experience.

One of the best things you can do is to work together with other close family members to try and help organize your loved one's finances and affairs to make the process of his or her passing smoother and less stressful. This decision may help to prevent undue anxiety from distracting you from being able to heal and focus on your emotional recovery.