Trusts live in a highly emotional context of money, death, loss and family. Feelings long-submerged can explode even for the most rational of us.
Too often, the approach in handling trusts is limited to intellectual, legalistic constructs instead of to also acknowledge the psycho-spiritual and emotional facets that are inseparable from both the individuals and the family as a group.
A high sensitivity to the fact that decision-making is emotion-infused can be critical. This could mean, for one example, that a group meeting of the family may not be practicable, and rather, the individuals should be spoken to separately.
And in the right places, professional family dynamics expertise should be brought in. I know it’s made a significant difference in my practice. Among other things, these professionals can be put to good use to:
- Support individuals, such as black sheep and change agents.
- Bridge communication chasms.
- Facilitate family decision-making and problem-solving.
- Look into the deeper issues of family mission and character.
Though delving into family dynamics can be challenging, it may be hard to achieve a successful trust without it.
Photo by Caleb Jones on Unsplash© 2015 – 2023 Daniel P. Felix, all rights reserved.
