Celebrity Estates: When Inheritance Hurts More Than It Helps with Don D. Ford III

Money passed down with good intentions can still create conflict, confusion and long-lasting family tension.

In this episode of Celebrity Estates, estate planning attorney Don D. Ford III joins the show to examine why more high-net-worth families are choosing to limit inheritances, not out of neglect, but out of concern for the long-term health of their family relationships. The discussion centers on how silence, assumptions and sudden wealth transfers can trigger conflict.

Don shares how unequal planning, lack of preparation and delayed conversations frequently lead to disputes between siblings. He also shares real examples showing how family meetings, philanthropy and thoughtful trust structures can reduce confusion and set clearer expectations.

Join Senior Editor David Lenok and Don Ford, managing partner at Ford + Bergner, as they unpack the estate planning lessons behind inheritance decisions that are meant to protect families, not divide them.

Key takeaways:

• Why sudden wealth transfers often strain sibling relationships, and how early conversations can reduce resentment
• How family meetings help define shared values, expectations and long-term intentions around money
• The difference between equal treatment and fair treatment among children with different abilities
• Ways philanthropy can unite heirs and create shared purpose beyond personal inheritance
• Why silence around estate plans often leads to confusion, conflict and costly disputes

Resources:

• Listen to Celebrity Estates on WealthManagement.com
• Subscribe and listen to Celebrity Estates on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe and listen to Celebrity Estates on Spotify
• Trust and Estates Magazine

Connect With David Lenok:

• david.lenok@informa.com 
• WealthManagement.com
• LinkedIn: David Lenok
• LinkedIn: Informa
• LinkedIn: WealthManagement

Connect With Don Ford:

• Website: Ford + Bergner LLP
• LinkedIn: Ford + Bergner LLP
• LinkedIn: Don D. Ford
• Email: dford@fordbergner.com 

About Our Guest:

Don D. Ford is the managing partner of Ford + Bergner, an estate planning and probate law firm with offices in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. His practice focuses on guiding families through complex estate planning, probate administration, and guardianship matters, particularly for high-net-worth households. Board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Don is also trained in mediation and has served on the state guardianship certification board, where he helped shape policy and oversight for professional guardians.