Anthony D. Marshall was recently convicted of stealing from his mother, wealthy New York philanthropist Brooke Astor. In most families, questions of inheritance don't result in criminal activity, but families all across the country sometimes face lengthy squabbles over the family fortune — even if the family fortune isn't much. We speak to Lisa Belkin, Takeaway contributor and author of the "Motherlode" blog at The New York Times; and Eve Rachel Markewich, an estate lawyer and partner at Markewich and Rosenstock. They both say it's important to talk with your family, early on, about what you want to happen after you die.
"From the parents' perspective, it is absolutely the best thing that you can do. Don't present it as this is a choice, 'we want to get your input.' But just, 'look, this is what we've decided to do and we want you to be able to talk to us about it while we're still here. Yell at me, don't yell at your brother.'"
—Eve Rachel Markewich, an estate lawyer, on parents talking to their kids about what's in their will before they die
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