Brothers and sisters who fall out over a will often never speak to each other again, warns Emma Woollard, Private Client Solicitor of Gotelee Solicitors.
"Most family arguments blow over sooner or later," says Emma. "But when there's money involved – especially a will – it can be enough to break a family apart."
A recent survey showed that inheritance rows are a major cause of family friction. The majority of the arguments were said to be between brothers and sisters, with 42 per cent never speaking to each other again.
More than a fifth of all inheritance rows are sparked by claims that an estate has been divided unfairly.
"No parent wants to see their children at each other's throats," says Sally Pryke at Gotelee. "But if you leave a will that isn't clear or can be contested, then you could be creating the conditions for a major family row. Leaving your estate to your loved ones should be a way of looking after them. But a badly written will – or worse still no will at all – could turn out to be a poisoned chalice."
The survey showed that 62 per cent of those questioned had not drawn up a will.
"We know, from bitter experience, that too many people locally have not drawn up an effective will," says Emma Woollard. "It's something that can easily be put right. And it's much more cost effective to get a will drawn up properly now, than have those you leave behind fighting each other through the courts for years after you’re gone. After all, is that how any of us want to be remembered – as the cause of a row?"