Lawyer Urges Will Transparency for 3 Generations to Avoid Family Disputes

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 20

Gary Rycroft and Annalisa Barbieri advised a couple to explain their will to beneficiaries before death, saying unexpected inheritances often trigger misunderstanding and lasting family rifts.
The couple’s estate would be split into thirds across three generations, while jewellery would go only to granddaughters—provisions they fear could cause resentment if discovered later.
Rycroft said there is no legal duty in England and Wales to disclose a will in advance, but families are often left unclear about why unequal or unusual gifts were made.
He recommended discussing the plan together while both spouses are alive and backing it with a formal memorandum of wishes, which explains decisions without overriding the will.
The advice reflects a broader point: inheritance shapes not just who gets assets, but how the deceased is remembered, even though adult beneficiaries can later redirect gifts by deed of variation.