NBC reports that Virginia State Police had to respond to a violent shootout in Louisa County over an inheritance fight this past Sunday. Police state that around 2:00p.m., they were called to a home on Twigg Drive for a family dispute. When police arrived, the issue was resolved and the police left the home. However, as a NY estate attorney can attest, when it comes to inheritance, sometimes disputes can't be easily settled.
Police say that over the course of the afternoon, tensions grew over the inheritance fight. At approximately 5:00 p.m., Charles Sponaugle Sr. started shooting his family with a .22 caliber target pistol. He shot and killed his son Charles Steadman, and his nephew Mark Cooper Sponaugle. He also shot and injured his sister, brother in law and two other nephews.
When responding deputies arrived on the scene with a K9, Charles Sponaugle Sr. released his pit bull and fired at the police. He was shot and killed by police. His pit bull was killed too. Police say that they have been called to this home repeatedly over an inheritance fight that has been going on since 2001. Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller said: "They're due to a death in the family. That was part of what was the ongoing feud that had been among the children there: who actually owns the property and has rights to it."
While this story would shock even the most experienced New York estate planning lawyer, the idea of an inheritance fight would not. One way to make it easier on your own family is to let them know how you are planning your estate out and ask them how they feel about it. While not everyone may be happy with your wishes, if they know why you planned your estate out the way you did, it paves the way for a smoother family transition. For more general information, please visit our Related Resources links.
Related Resources:
- Estate Planning: What Exactly Does It Entail? (FindLaw's New York Estate Planning News Blog)
- Ask A New York Estate Planning Lawyer (FindLaw)
- Preparing Your Parents For The Estate Tax Could Save Money (FindLaw's New York Estate Planning News Blog)
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