Sibling Rivarly

So, this lady came into our law library the other day looking for resources relating to defending against a will contest.  Turns out, she had been fighting with her sister for the last seven (that's right, seven) years over her deceased mother's will that gave her the lion's share of the estate.  To be fair, she actually deserved it since she quit her job and moved across the country just to take care of her dying mother - all while the sister was out partying and living the high life.  Another thing was that the will in question was written long before this lady moved in to take care of her mother - so there was no issue of fraud or undue influence (nothing blatantly evident, anyway).  

What the case boiled down to was that the sister's high life was expensive and she got greedy; sister didn't just want part of the estate - she wanted all of it.  Sell the house, rape and pillage the estate all in the name of greed.  Sad what money will do to some people.  Just hope the sister doesn't need a kidney later in life what with her burning the bridge to her only living sibling.

Maybe you are having similar family problems OR you know you someone who is having similar family problems? If so, might I suggest you go to your local county law library and take a look at Page on Wills (Lexis), 8 Ways to Avoid Probate (Nolo Press), American Jurisprudence Pleading and Practice Forms Annotated, vol. 25A; Wills (West), and Plan Your Estate (Nolo Press).

So, whether you and yours are in dutch or you've decided to go dutch treat, know that your local county law librarian knows just what you need to help you get a leg up on your siblings before the sibling rivalry gets too out of hand.