A family divided

Words of wisdom: Make a Last Will and Testament for yourselves if you love your family. Nothing tears a family apart like the greed that rears its ugly head when a family member dies.

My mother died in February from complications from the H1N1 virus. Our family was already what Webster's defines as abnormal, dysfunctional, and extremely divided. However, when mom died everyone thought she had a Will but we found out that she didn't. We, the four heirs, appointed my youngest sister Tammy to administer my mother's estate. It all seemed to be going well until Tammy started making deals behind my back, since my older brother and other sister washed their hands of the situation.

Now my mother was an awesome entrepreneur, and CEO, however she was a lousy CFO. She failed to pay taxes on her business for many years and had several tax liens against her business. However, the business was raking in 12k a month even though it was being run improperly.

Tammy decided to give property of the estate away to non family members. She decided to keep property herself, and started to give property to my brother. However, she charged me for the chair and ottoman that had been promised to me. All of this led to more and more disclosures of wrong doing by Tammy, eventually I had to hire a lawyer to put an injunction against the illegal sale of my mother's property. 

This has done nothing but drive a wedge further between myself and my three siblings. However, I am confident now that things will be done fairly and the estate will be administered legally.

So in short, you are never too young to make a will for yourself. This is the greatest gift you can leave for your loved ones.