Disputes over estates can go one for years or even decades. Sometimes the strain the long battle inflicts on the family, makes it better to give up the fight than continue.
For years, everything about the way that Bobby McKee set up his estate plan appeared to be going well. He created a trust that his wife benefited from well, while she was still alive. After she passed away, the trust continued for the benefit of the couple's three children. However, things did not stay peaceful.
A daughter and her husband grew concerned that potentially millions of dollars were missing from the trust. They initiated an investigation to see whether the mother's former advisors had acted improperly. That investigation has been going on for so long, that the two sons of McKee grew tired of it more than a decade ago. That is when they stopped speaking to their sister.
Finding millions of missing dollars would benefit the brothers. However, they desperately want the investigation to stop, so everyone can move on with their lives as The New York Times reported in "Are Millions Missing? Some Relatives Want to Know. Others Don't."
This highlights a potentially big problem when there are disputes over trusts and estates. The battles can go on for so long and they can become so all-consuming, that the stress they cause is no longer worth it for everyone involved. Lengthy disputes also tend to create large bills to attorneys and other professionals.
When this happens, it is often best to step back and think about whether the fight is worth continuing to pursue. It may be better to put an end to the stress and move on.
Reference: New York Times (March 22, 2018) "Are Millions Missing? Some Relatives Want to Know. Others Don't."
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