Probate disputes may occur because a beneficiary believes that the executor of an estate has failed to live up to their fiduciary duties, or for some other reason. It is, of course, a good idea to prevent probate disputes altogether, and we have gone into detail on some of the reasons why these disagreements arise within families. Sometimes, disputes surface no matter what, and when this happens it is essential to do what you can to work toward a positive outcome.
Whether you are an executor or beneficiary directly involved in a dispute or you are related to family members who are going through a dispute, it is important to look for ways to reduce tensions during this tough time. First of all, some disputes can be resolved in a more amicable manner by increasing communication and understanding between those who are in a dispute. Sometimes, seeing the other person’s point of view and discussing the situation with them can be helpful. However, this certainly does not work out well for everyone and is not even a possibility for some people.
When emotions run high, the entire process can become more challenging and relationships may be permanently shattered. Sometimes, people bring up issues from the past that have nothing to do with an estate and allow their hard feelings over things that happened years ago to affect the dispute. Visit the probate page on our blog to read more about probate disputes and other legal matters that are related to estates.