Leaving an inheritance does not have to be all or nothing. You can leave a small token gift, such as a hundred dollars or a family heirloom, to show that you thought of them and didn’t accidentally omit them. A no-contest clause provides that anyone who challenges your plan loses their inheritance. Combining it with…

Disinheritance—the intentional exclusion of a family member, usually a child or spouse, from receiving part of your estate—is more common than you might think. It is also easier than you might think, with a couple of exceptions. However, it is not as simple as omitting someone’s name from your estate plan. You are generally—but not…

Try to get a copy of your parents’ will or trust so you can find out who inherited from them and whether there were any recent changes to their estate plan. This information could raise red flags that warrant further investigation. For example, they left the money to a charity or other group with which…

Before seriously considering a will or trust contest—which could be a long, expensive, and ultimately fruitless undertaking—it may be worth asking a few questions to put things into perspective. If your parents said you were going to receive something and you did not, this could be an issue. If you do not know what their…

In most cases, children are not entitled to inherit their parents’ money and property. You may, however, have the right to receive a copy of their will if they have one. If they used a trust, it may be more difficult for you to get a copy if you were not a beneficiary. If the…