The PennZone

NEW YORK - PennZone -- Upon reviewing a Will following the passing of a family member often there are disagreements among families. They begin to argue and question the wishes and intentions of their deceased parent or family member believing they simply could not have intended to do what they did.

If you have made decisions about how to treat your family and friends, letting them know ahead of time provides an opportunity to digest the information but beware, this could invite them to try to convince you to changes, resulting in an uncomfortable situation or worse, lasting family feuds.

Depending on your family relationships, you may wish to choose one of your children to act as the trustee, personal representative/executor, and agent. Actions such as appointing people to certain roles, especially if you choose a corporate fiduciary instead of a family member, could upset (or sometimes relieve) others if and when they find out.

More on The PennZone

• The World's No.1 Superstar® Brings Christmas Back in Grand Style with Music, Cinematic Glamour, and Luxury Fashion
• New Six-Figure Media Agreement Builds Powerful Momentum, Expanding Government Contracts, FBI Access and Growing AI Recognition: Cyabra (NAS DAQ: CYAB)
• Christmas Beats Summer in Paris: Travel Photoshoots Peak on Dec. 30
• Qscription Technologies Welcomes Joanna Krause, MD, MRMD to Its Clinical Advisory Board
• Jamie Foxx's SKVLK Fest Sets the Record Straight on Stabbing Reports Following Star-Studded Celebration

Though some prefer to leave a note, letter, or even a video for their intended beneficiaries and family members to explain why they designed their estate plan a certain way. However, we strongly urge you to consult with an attorney before preparing something like that, as such writings, videos, and voice recordings are admissible as evidence (including any rough drafts, or deleted outtakes). Additionally, one-on-one meetings about your estate plan with family members often present their own problems from an evidentiary standpoint in a litigated estate.

If you believe your estate plan will cause World War III among your family members, we recommend you consult with an experienced estate attorney to coordinate an "all hands on deck" family meeting, with witnesses and that attorney present, to discuss your estate plan and set expectations. This way, everyone could hear the same information, at the same time, in front of objective observers with "no skin in the game." By choosing to share your estate plan now, you can get those discussions out of the way and keep everyone on the same page, whether they like it or not.

More on The PennZone

• Coach Bulinda Wright Advances To Top Five In National 'Top Host 2026 Competition'
• Andrew Balzano Releases One of My Life's Passions: Classics and Mysteries, a Fan's Guide to Great Mysteries Worth Rewatching
• Feldman Shepherd Named as 2027 'Best Law Firm' by Best Lawyers -- Tier 1 National & Philadelphia
• The 4th Annual Newark Summit for Economic Development, Placemaking & Innovation Returns on December 8th
• Corner Property Management AAMC Awarded Community Management Contract for Belvidere at Doyle Square

Even for those with a straightforward estate plan where family members are one cohesive group, it can still be a good idea to get together with family, as a group to review and discuss their estate planning documents in one sitting. We recommend this for many of our clients who have a Trustate Toolkit. Setting up such a meeting provides a chance to share your estate plan with all of the primary participants, and to clear the air and assure everyone in the meeting that this really is what you want.