Top Signs That It’s Time to Disinherit Your Family Member in North Palm Beach

Disowning or disinheriting your family member in North Palm Beach is one of the most difficult decisions you’ll need to make. When is this drastic step truly necessary? What kind of signs might indicate that your family member should not benefit from your estate in any way after you’re gone? These are questions you might want to discuss with an experienced Palm Beach estate planning lawyer.

Your Family Member Has a History of Financially Manipulating Others 

If your family member has an established history of financially manipulating others, including them in your Will might not be the best option. These past activities might include lies, fraud, or deception. Note that even if the family member has never deceived you in particular, they could still engage in these kinds of activities after you’re gone.

You should know that if your family member is this type of person, you may also want to prepare for a potential “Will contest” after you’re gone. If your relative seems willing to lie for financial gain, they might contest your Will and claim that it’s invalid. Your attorney can help you protect against this type of threat from a disinherited loved one.

Your Family Member Seems “Money-Obsessed”

A “money-obsessed” family member may also be someone you might want to disinherit. If the family member seems to be willing to do anything for money, they might be willing to lie or misrepresent the truth when challenging your Will in court. In this situation, you may want to disinherit your family member and take steps to protect against potential Will contests. 

They Have a History of Stealing From Other Family Members 

A family member might also have a history of outright stealing from your loved ones. Perhaps they have stolen cash out of a wallet or purse in the past. Maybe some of your prized possessions have mysteriously gone missing from your home. If your family member is willing to engage in this misconduct, including them in your Will or trust could be highly inadvisable.

They Have Poor Financial Skills 

Even if your loved one hasn’t done anything wrong in the past, you might consider disinheriting them if they have poor financial skills. For example, they might spend their entire paycheck after receiving it. They might also be struggling with a gambling problem or substance addiction. Note that instead of disinheriting your loved one, you can instead include them in a spendthrift trust. Discuss other potential alternatives with an estate planning lawyer.

Can an Estate Planning Lawyer in North Palm Beach Help Me?

If you’re thinking about disinheriting a family member, consider discussing the next steps with a North Palm Beach estate planning lawyer. This is one of the most difficult family decisions imaginable, but it may be necessary under certain circumstances. However, there may be alternatives worth considering as well. Discuss the next steps with Kitroser, Lewis & Mighdoll today.

Source: 

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