It has been difficult to miss the recent media frenzy surrounding Brooklyn Beckham and his fall out with parents David and Victoria.

Rumours of a feud between “Brand Beckham” have been circling for almost three years now. It all came to a head on 19^th January however, when Brooklyn broke his silence by posting an explosive statement on his Instagram stories. This statement aired Brooklyn’s many grievances against his parents, in particular his mother Victoria – better known to us 90s babies as “Posh Spice.”

Brooklyn cited various perceived aggressions towards his new wife Nicola Peltz when making clear that he has no intention to reconcile with his parents.

The feud is a reminder that even the rich and famous are not immune to family drama. Whilst it has livened up an otherwise dull January for us, it is a stark reminder that family fall outs, no matter what their cause are unfortunately a very sad and difficult reality for many of us.

In my work at Maxwell Hodge as a Lifetime Planning solicitor, I meet with people from all walks of life to assist them with all aspects of planning for their future. One of the key matters we discuss is the importance of putting in place a Will.

Whilst a Will is always important to have in place and regularly update, it becomes even more valuable if there are complex family dynamics at play.

If you pass away without a Will, your estate passes via the law of intestacy, this could mean that a family member you would not have wished to benefit could in fact inherit part or all of your estate.

Putting in place your Will involves detailed discussions on the level of your estate, your family circumstances and who it is you want to benefit and why.

There are numerous reasons relations with adult children may not be ideal.  As with the Beckhams a child’s new spouse can sometimes strain the relationship between a child and parent as priorities and expectations shift after marriage.

Parents divorcing, remarrying, or having another child with a new partner can cause feelings of hurt or abandonment on the child’s part.

Sibling rivalries or perceived favouritisms that have long simmered throughout childhood can come to a head as the children reach adulthood, leaving parents in an impossible spot when their children don’t all get along.

All the above as well as mental health or addiction issues can create the perfect melting pot for future costly and emotionally taxing disputes if a Will is not properly drafted.

At Maxwell Hodge, we take a holistic approach with each client to properly understand their family dynamics, financial situation, family expectations and their wishes should the worst happen.

We provide advice on how best to structure the Will in a way that ensures a person’s wishes are carried out. This may involve removing a child from a Will, leaving unequal amounts to different children or in some cases leaving a child’s share in a trust for their benefit.

We ensure that the reasoning behind each Will is documented meticulously, minimising the risk of any possible claims against the estate.

Most family disputes aren’t glamorous like the Beckhams, but they are without a doubt painful for all involved. Such disputes however do need to be addressed.  Proper advice and planning is essential to guarantee that any further disagreement and pain is kept to a minimum.

If you need help with your Will don’t hesitate to contact our Lifetime Planning Team at Maxwell Hodge Solicitors.