How to Manage A Family Inheritance

The death of a family member is traumatic enough without dealing with greed and other issues brought to bear during times of grief. Having a plan worked out ahead of time or understanding what to do when faced with the situation can help avoid the rifts that can be caused when no clear direction has been left for friends and family to follow.

As baby boomers age and pass on, more money and financial wealth will be passed on than ever before. It is never too late to make family inheritance planning a priority. Some aspects of family inheritance planning should take place earlier in life, others after an inheritance is received. These tips should help prevent some of the discomfort and answer a few questions about managing family inheritance.

If You Are the Bequeather…

Plan in Advance

Managing a family inheritance begins before there is an inheritance to manage. Maintain strong relationships with family members. Talk about everyone’s expectations. Sit down together and discuss any concerns including who will be receiving great-grandma’s gold brooch.

Make a Will

Seek the advice of a reputable lawyer. Consider who will be inheriting from you and how everyone involved will feel about your choices. Be specific about the “who” and “how much”. Establish any contingencies or trusts that seem appropriate.

Communicate Your Wishes

Open communication in most every situation is the key to success and family inheritance planning is no different. Let your family members know your wishes and your reasons ahead of time. This can prevent the squabbling that can destroy families who are unprepared to manage a family inheritance.

Leave Your Affairs in Order

Maintain records which can be easily located instructing who the executor of the estate is to be. If insurance policies are part of the inheritance, keep records of the policies and redemption requirements somewhere accessible. A copy of your will should also be in a safe place. A safety deposit box may be the best place for such information. Don’t forget to leave information so that the executor knows where to locate the box.

If You Are The Beneficiary…

If There Is No Will

Consult a lawyer who can help resolve issues regarding the estate. Probate court is a complicated and often drawn out circumstance and you will need legal assistance to maneuver through it. Aside from the division of the estate assets, a family or tax lawyer can help with complex inheritance tax issues whether or not a will exists.

Consider Your Dreams

Depending on the amount inherited, the management of the funds may be easy or quite daunting. Small amounts may allow for the purchase of something long desired such as a big screen television, a vacation or the remodeling of your home. Larger amounts may open possibilities you never dared to imagine. Take some time to evaluate your options and determine what makes the most sense. There is no urgency in making your decision.

Use a Financial Planner

If there is a lot of cash involved, seek the services of a reputable financial planner. Even a few thousand dollars invested properly can increase with time into a sizable amount. Once you have outlined your dreams, a financial planner can advise what options might best help you achieve those dreams. Perhaps early retirement is one of the goals. A financial planner can tell you based on the amount of money and the number of years you are willing to invest, what financial instruments best suit that goal.

Revisit Your Own Insurance Needs

Perhaps your inheritance came in the form of valuable artwork or expensive jewelry. Maybe you decided to purchase a rare book collection with some of your inheritance. You may need to have these things insured. Also, if the inheritance you hope to leave behind is large, you may wish to increase the life insurance you have to offset the amount lost in taxes.

Following these tips may not eliminate all the discord caused by a family inheritance but can help. Planning ahead for your loved ones can avoid causing friction. After all, they are your loved ones and the last thing you want is for the family to be torn apart by squabbling at a time when they need to lean on each other. If you are the recipient, stay calm and give yourself time before deciding what to do with the inheritance. Prudence is the key here.