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Inheritance Heists Ch. 13: Emotional Recovery After an Estate Dispute
I’m Mike Hackard with Hackard Law. I’m sharing passages from my new book Inheritance Heists – and I hope that they can help you avoid estate disaster.
Today I’m going to address an issue that is crucial for clients: methods of emotional recovery. Beyond the technical work of attorneys and the court system, each client must grapple with the stress and trauma of grief, loss, and conflict over estate assets.
Recognizing the profound impact of emotions on inheritance disputes, consider implementing the following strategies:
Facilitated Family Discussions: Engage a neutral third party to facilitate open dialogues about inheritance plans before conflicts arise. This can help air concerns, clarify intentions, and prevent misunderstandings.
Parallel Counseling: Consider family counseling alongside legal proceedings to address underlying emotional issues. Individual therapy can also help stakeholders process grief, anger, or other complex emotions related to the inheritance conflict.
Self-Care and Stress Management: Emphasize the importance of selfcare for all parties involved in prolonged inheritance disputes. This might include regular exercise, mindfulness practices, or maintaining social connections outside of the dispute.
Grief Support: Recognize that inheritance disputes often coincide with the grieving process. Encourage participation in grief support groups or individual grief counseling to help navigate this challenging emotional terrain.
Stepfamily Mediation: In blended family scenarios, consider specialized family mediation that addresses the unique dynamics between stepparents and stepchildren. This can help resolve conflicts and prevent inheritance disputes before they escalate.
If you need help in an emotionally tense dispute over an estate or trust, we understand where you’re coming from. You can call us at Hackard Law today: 916-313-3030.
We want to hear your story.