Real life is usually less dramatic, but one source of conflict is unequal inheritances, where one heir receives more than others. Researchers attributed the trend to changing family dynamics, including higher divorce rates, remarriages, cohabitation and nonmarital childbearing. Without clear communication, a decision to leave one heir more than another can lead to resentment, legal disputes and fractured relationships. “My rule now is simple: If a decision might surprise an heir, it should never surprise them for the first time in a lawyer’s office,” he told Advisor Upside. “We can explain the documents, help administer the assets fairly and encourage communication, but the person best positioned to explain the decision is no longer there,” he told Advisor Upside.