Many siblings are known to fight over things from the time they’re little. This could continue as they grow older and expect to receive certain assets from their parents in California. Fortunately, there are ways to handle this type of an inheritance dispute.
Having an estate plan
Siblings are more likely to squabble over an inheritance if their parent does not have an estate plan in place at the time of their death. Legal tools such as a will or trust establish who is meant to get what in terms of inheritance, sometimes with special instructions from the parent. Estate planning makes everything clear and could prevent disputes.
Consider counseling
Family counseling might help if you and your sibling have disputes over a specific asset. Your parent might have meant to leave a specific item to one of you, but it could instill certain emotions in the other. Often, this has nothing to do with the financial aspects of the item and everything to do with sentimental value. A therapist might be able to help you get to the bottom of the issue and resolve things faster.
Neutral personal representative
If a parent has named a neutral person to serve as personal representative of their estate, it can help to minimize or eliminate sibling disputes. A neutral third party in that role is helpful because that person has nothing to gain and won’t be biased in one sibling’s favor.
Consider mediation
Mediation is one of the best options for resolving disputes. A neutral third party helps the siblings reach an agreement while allowing them to avoid going to court for a long, emotional battle. Mediation often works because it lets the parties negotiate and find a satisfactory middle ground.