First, because the sons have different fathers and have an age difference of 10 years, there might be very little love lost between them. It is not unusual in blended families for step-siblings to argue over a parent’s estate.
Another issue might be that Hepburn’s personal effects are likely to have value to collectors. Each brother could be insisting that he should get the items that are perceived to have more value on the market.
Whenever blended families are involved it is important that estate plans are as detailed as possible. As this case shows it is not always a safe assumption that the children will be able to agree about dividing the estate in the absence of clear instructions.
Contact an experienced estate planning attorney to make sure you address all blended family issues.
