Tag: Family Communication
Celebrity Estates: When Inheritance Hurts More Than It Helps with Don D. Ford III

Celebrity Estates: When Inheritance Hurts More Than It Helps with Don D. Ford III

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Money passed down with good intentions can still create conflict, confusion and long-lasting family tension.

In this episode of Celebrity Estates, estate planning attorney Don D. Ford III joins the show to examine why more high-net-worth families are choosing to limit inheritances, not out of neglect, but out of concern for the long-term health of their family relationships. The discussion centers on how silence, assumptions and sudden wealth transfers can trigger conflict.

Don shares how unequal planning, lack of preparation and delayed conversations frequently lead to disputes between siblings. He also shares real examples showing how family meetings, philanthropy and thoughtful trust structures can reduce confusion and set clearer expectations.

Join Senior Editor David Lenok and Don Ford, managing partner at Ford + Bergner, as they unpack the estate planning lessons behind inheritance decisions that are meant to protect families, not divide them.

Key takeaways:

  • Why sudden wealth transfers often strain sibling relationships, and how early conversations can reduce resentment
  • How family meetings help define shared values, expectations and long-term intentions around money
  • The difference between equal treatment and fair treatment among children with different abilities
  • Ways philanthropy can unite heirs and create shared purpose beyond personal inheritance
  • Why silence around estate plans often leads to confusion, conflict and costly disputes

Resources:

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About Our Guest:

Don D. Ford is the managing partner of Ford + Bergner, an estate planning and probate law firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. His practice focuses on guiding families through complex estate planning, probate administration, and guardianship matters, particularly for high-net-worth households. Board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Don is also trained in mediation and has served on the state guardianship certification board, where he helped shape policy and oversight for professional guardians.
Celebrity Estates: Updating Estate Plans Through Life’s Milestones

Celebrity Estates: Updating Estate Plans Through Life’s Milestones

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Life changes, and your estate plan should change with it. Attorney Matthew Erskine joins the Celebrity Estates podcast to explain why estate planning is never a “set it and forget it” process, but a lifelong practice that evolves alongside major milestones.

Matthew walks through key life events from marriage and divorce to relocation and retirement and shares how each can reshape a client’s estate strategy. Drawing from years of experience, he highlights how small updates, communication and awareness of changes in the law can prevent major family disputes.

Join Senior Editor David Lenok and Matthew Erskine, ower of The Erksine Company, as they discuss how to keep estate plans living, relevant and aligned with every stage of life.

David and Matthew discuss:

  • Why every major life event, from marriage to relocation, should trigger a review of your estate plan
  • The importance of communication between family members to avoid future conflicts
  • How to handle estate planning for beneficiaries facing personal challenges
  • The impact of tax and law changes on existing estate documents
  • Why advisors should treat estate plans as “living documents” and revisit them annually

Resources:

Connect With David Lenok:

Connect With Matthew Erskine:

About Our Guest:

Matthew F. Erskine is an approachable, empathic estate and succession planning attorney who creatively and holistically solves families’ unique asset and estate needs. He is the fourth generation of lawyers known for integrity and personal service. Matt concentrates on providing legal and fiduciary services for families with basic estates as well as real estate, unique assets, or a family business. Unlike most trust and estate attorneys, Matt’s focus is on ensuring financial security while preserving the ownership of unique but often illiquid assets for the client and family.