Protecting family relationships during probate

Experiencing the death of a loved one can be a traumatic and exhausting experience. In the midst of you and your loved ones grieving, there is also the task of settling your loved one’s final affairs.

Often, the probate process can take a significant amount of time and can include challenging feelings from you and your other family members. In some cases, the same people you would turn to for support can seem like they are making a difficult job more stressful.

Here are a few tips for navigating your relationships with your loved ones as you go through the probate process.

Take breaks, ask for help

The probate process can feel grueling. If you are the personal representative, you can feel the responsibility of taking care of everything alone. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to moments of explosive frustration, especially around your closest family and friends.

Even though you are responsible for much of the probate process, you can still ask for help. You will likely find several family members who are willing to give you the support you need so that you can take a much-needed break.

Get outside support

Often, when a family member names a personal representative, they are choosing someone they trust while also trying to honor a relationship. In some cases, being a personal representative can be stressful and create tension between you and the other members of the family.

Typically, you will need to have legal support as you navigate the probate process. A skilled attorney can give you the support you need to coordinate the layers of probate and some of the challenging situations you may encounter.