Ten Ways to Prevent a Lawsuit Over Your Estate

Lawsuits over a decedent’s estate occur all to often. A list of ten steps an estate owner can take to help prevent a future lawsuit is below:

1. Treat siblings equally.
2. Decide who gets which treasure.
3. Keep track of loans and advances.
4. Transfer a business with a contract.
5. Check ownership of what you leave.
6. Get your own lawyer.
7. Consider a corporate executor.
8. Establish you’re of sound mind.
9. Include a “no contest” clause.
10. Spell out any disinheritance.

See Ashlea Ebeling, 10 Ways to Lawsuit-Proof Your Estate, Forbes, Jul. 13, 2011.

Special thanks to Patrick Thiessen (Attorney, Denver, Colorado) and Jim Hillhouse (WealthCounsel) for bringing this to my attention.