Red Flags in a Will

Occasionally, you may come across clauses in a will that can cause confusion, or even disputes, among surviving family members. For example, gifts made to groups of people, such as "my nieces and nephews," can be difficult to interrpet. What happens if one of the people in the group has died, or it's not clear who was supposed to be included? 

To interpret a will correctly, you may also need to look outside the document itself and see what has happened to the family since the will was signed. If the will-maker got divorced, or a major beneficiary has died, you may need to look to state law to figure out who should inherit. Here are some will clauses and life events to keep an eye out for.