No one wants to think that their death could lead to disagreement between the people they love most. Yet new research from STEP, the professional body for trust and estate practitioners, shows that inheritance disputes are rising sharply — and that blended families are particularly vulnerable.

According to STEP’s latest findings, 41% of practitioners have seen an increase in disputes within blended or stepfamilies, while 71% say that increasingly complex family structures are now a leading cause of inheritance and succession planning difficulties.

The most common source of conflict is between:

• children or stepchildren and a surviving parent or stepparent;

• siblings who feel they have been treated unequally; and

• children and stepchildren with competing expectations.

These disputes are not just legal problems. They can be emotionally devastating, expensive to resolve, and capable of damaging family relationships permanently.

The uncomfortable truth: many families simply do not talk about it

STEP’s research also reveals a striking lack of communication around estate planning:

1. 80% of UK adults say their family do not know their wishes for when they die;

2. around 35% of adults — approximately 19 million people — do not have a will;

3. only 16% have discussed their will, their wishes after death, and where their will can be found;

4. an estimated 4 million people say they would definitely dispute a will if they felt unfairly excluded.

Perhaps most concerning of all, some people avoid making a will precisely because they fear it might cause arguments — leaving their loved ones to deal with far greater uncertainty and conflict later.

Blended families, unmarried partners and children from earlier relationships need particular care

Many people assume that their estate will “naturally” pass to those closest to them. Unfortunately, the law does not always work that way.

Without a carefully prepared and up-to-date will:

1. a cohabiting partner may receive nothing;

2. stepchildren may have no automatic entitlement;

3. children from a previous marriage or relationship may feel overlooked;

4. a surviving spouse or partner may be left in conflict with adult children;

5. informal promises made over the years may be impossible to enforce.

The risks are especially acute where someone has remarried, lives with a partner without being married, has children from more than one relationship, owns property, or wishes to balance provision between a spouse and children.

It is also easy to overlook how life events affect existing arrangements. For example, marriage or civil partnership can revoke an existing will in England and Wales, unless the will was specifically prepared in contemplation of that marriage or civil partnership.

A will is not just a document — it is a plan to protect your family

Good estate planning is about more than deciding who receives what. It is about creating clarity, reducing uncertainty and putting arrangements in place that reflect your actual wishes.

That may include:

• preparing or reviewing your will;

• ensuring provision is fairly structured between a spouse, partner, children and stepchildren;

• considering trusts where appropriate;

• appointing guardians for minor children;

• planning for business interests or substantial family wealth;

• ensuring loved ones know that arrangements exist and where key documents are held.

Many of the inheritance disputes that arise after death could have been avoided through clear advice, careful drafting and honest conversations during life.

Do not leave your family to guess or argue

If you have not made a will, if your family circumstances have changed, or if your existing will has not been reviewed for several years, now is the time to act.

At VEKA Legal, we help individuals and families put clear, practical and carefully considered estate planning arrangements in place. Whether you are making a will for the first time, reviewing an older will, or navigating the complexities of a blended family, we can guide you through the issues sensitively and with a focus on protecting those you care about most.

A difficult conversation today can prevent a painful dispute tomorrow.

Speak to VEKA Legal

For advice on wills, inheritance planning and protecting your family’s future, please get in touch with VEKA Legal to arrange an initial discussion.