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Protecting The Interests Of Older Clients In Multi-Generation Representations, Carolyn L. Dessin

Carolyn L. Dessin

Estate planning is a field in which attorneys often represent members of the same family of different generations. This frequently leads to situations in which the family members have conflicting, or at least potentially conflicting, financial interests. Unfortunately, attorneys sometimes do not recognize the difficulties that such conflicting interests may cause until a full-blown fight develops between members of the family. At that point, the attorney may find himself open to a disciplinary complaint or a malpractice action, or, at the very least, a group of unhappy former clients.

Special concerns arise when one or more of the family members …