Everyone is in a unique position with respect to their estate, not only as a result of their financial circumstances but family matters as well. For example, if one of your family members is estranged, you likely have different issues to consider with respect to your estate plan, especially regarding inheritance.
According to USA.Gov, there are many issues to consider when setting up a will or creating a trust, such as the way in which you divide assets among beneficiaries. Sometimes, people decide to remove family members who are estranged from their estate plan, while others face challenges due to a lack of communication.
How can an estranged relative impact an estate plan?
There are various ways in which estranged relatives affect estate plans. For example, some people become estranged even though they previously had a very close relationship with family members, and this is especially challenging if they were named as the executor of an estate and given crucial responsibilities. Moreover, many people face uncertainty with regard to distributing their assets if one of their beneficiaries has become estranged.
How can you address this facet of estate planning?
If you are facing this challenge, you need to address the situation carefully. If possible, it is sometimes helpful to reach out to an estranged loved one and try to discuss estate planning matters with them. However, this is not always an option or a good idea. Sometimes, estranged family members are unwilling to talk about any issues with their relatives and people decide to remove them from an estate plan entirely.
