Help What guardrails can you put in place in case your estate gets sued after CTB?

[OldManOfTheLake]

I am in the US if that helps.


I have a pretty large insurance policy. The payout of that insurance policy is different based on if I CTB or pass away naturally (CTB payout is only 25% compared to passing away naturally). However the sum is still significant. In my will I am allocating 20% to five friends; some of them have children and could use the money.

However my family is horrible and I expect them to take my estate to court. My mother still has a warrant out for her arrest for a forgery charge (she forged my name on credit cards) and I would expect her to take my estate to court for that insurance policy. One case is civil, and the other is criminal, so she could technically do this. I could also see her taking my estate to court through my sister as a proxxy. I would absolutely not be surprised if they attempt to forge and fabricate documents to build their case.

I have the following questions:

1. What if I went "missing" instead? To my knowledge, I would have to be declared legally dead before this takes place. In the US, it takes approximately 7 years to be declared legally dead. It sucks for my friends but my idea is if I "run the clock" my mom may pass away first. She is in her 60's and is predisposed to Alzheimer's.

2. Should I modify my will to allocate a budget for litigation? The budget would vary in size on whether insurance determined if I CTB or not.

 

[lionetta12]

I am in the US if that helps.


I have a pretty large insurance policy. The payout of that insurance policy is different based on if I CTB or pass away naturally (CTB payout is only 25% compared to passing away naturally). However the sum is still significant. In my will I am allocating 20% to five friends; some of them have children and could use the money.

However my family is horrible and I expect them to take my estate to court. My mother still has a warrant out for her arrest for a forgery charge (she forged my name on credit cards) and I would expect her to take my estate to court for that insurance policy. One case is civil, and the other is criminal, so she could technically do this. I could also see her taking my estate to court through my sister as a proxxy. I would absolutely not be surprised if they attempt to forge and fabricate documents to build their case.

I have the following questions:

1. What if I went "missing" instead? To my knowledge, I would have to be declared legally dead before this takes place. In the US, it takes approximately 7 years to be declared legally dead. It sucks for my friends but my idea is if I "run the clock" my mom may pass away first. She is in her 60's and is predisposed to Alzheimer's.

2. Should I modify my will to allocate a budget for litigation? The budget would vary in size on whether insurance determined if I CTB or not.

Does video recorded wills count and matter in America? I would and I did make that in addition to my actual will, just to make it clear what my wishes are and so that it's more difficult for anyone to be confused or for anyone who's not in it to try and fight for the stuff. Usually where I'm from, when you write an insurance, you can choose a name or some names to give to the insurance company of people you want to get the payout. I don't think anyone can forge that since it's all done online on the insurance website, while signed into your profile.