What If Your Child Challenges the Will?
An estranged child may challenge an estate plan after the parent’s death.
That does not mean they will necessarily succeed.
But litigation can consume time, money, and emotional energy for the surviving family.
A carefully prepared estate plan can reduce certain risks, although no document can guarantee that nobody will challenge an estate.
The American Bar Association notes that international estates can be particularly complicated because different countries may apply different succession rules, including mandatory inheritance rights.
For that reason, professional advice becomes especially important when the family situation is complicated or the estate crosses borders.
Perhaps the Most Important Inheritance Is Not Money
There is another side to this question that lawyers cannot completely answer.
Imagine your child standing at your funeral years from now.
Maybe you never reconciled.
Maybe they regret what happened.
Maybe you regret things too.
They may inherit a house, an investment account, jewelry, photographs, or nothing at all.
