On 09/08/2014 7:39 PM, Janet Wilder wrote:
> On 8/9/2014 8:09 PM, Kalmia wrote:
>
>>> I'm sure you have good reasons, I just always find it sad when family
>>>
>>> members are estranged, nothing more.
>>
>> I know at LEAST 5 sets of siblings who aren't talking because of a
>> fight over the parents' assets. Each one thinks the other one
>> 'robbed' them. I know one guy who's spent 50K in legal fees fighting
>> a brother who claims blah blah blah. It's too bad, but it seems to be
>> more common lately.
>>
>
> Trusts and estates were my business before retiring early to become a
> road warrior. At one time I worked for the most prestigious firm in that
> field in New Jersey. The guy I worked for actually wrote the state
> Probate Practices book. I co-authored a book on New Jersey Inheritance
> Taxes and practices with an attorney friend.
>
> I can tell you stories of entire fortunes being dissipated by angry
> siblings. No one ever wins except the lawyers in these cases.
>

Jarndyce v. Jarndyce!

It has hit two of my cousins very recently over their mother's estate.
The elder (a real bitch who bad-mouthed her mother at the funeral) took
it to court and the judge ordered everything to be auctioned and hit her
with the legal costs.
My 2 sons have VERY different personalities and don't see eye-to-eye.
Therefore, I have set it up so there should be no arguments.
Graham