When siblings disagree about a parent’s estate
Losing a parent, or watching one decline, can bring old family tensions to the surface. Questions about the house, the heirlooms, or how a parent’s affairs are being handled can feel impossible to talk about. I help siblings and family members have those conversations calmly, so the relationship can survive the decision.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839Free and confidential · I reply within 1–2 business days · In person in Northern Virginia or by secure video
What families talk through
This is family mediation about communication and practical decisions. I don’t interpret wills or trusts or tell anyone what they’re entitled to — that’s for your own attorney.
The family home
Whether to sell, rent, or keep a parent’s house, who handles clean-out and repairs, and how timing works for everyone.
Belongings & heirlooms
Dividing personal items, from furniture to photos, in a way that feels fair and honors sentimental value.
Communication with the executor
How the family member handling a parent’s affairs will share updates, and how others can raise questions.
Caregiving and fairness
Feelings that one sibling did more of the caregiving, and how the family wants to recognize that.
Blended family dynamics
Conversations between a surviving spouse, stepchildren, and adult children with different expectations.
A family business or property
Who wants to stay involved, who wants out, and how to talk about it without breaking the family apart.
Keeping the family in family matters
When an estate goes through probate in Virginia, the process runs through the clerk’s office of the local circuit court, such as the Fairfax County Circuit Court. Formal disputes can take a long time and play out in a public setting. Mediation is a private alternative where family members can talk through what matters to them and look for agreements they can all live with — often before positions harden.
Many inheritance disagreements aren’t really about money. They’re about feeling unheard, old sibling roles, or grief that hasn’t had a place to go. A neutral facilitator can slow the conversation down, make sure each person has room to speak, and keep the focus on decisions rather than blame.
Families are rarely all in one place. I meet in person in Northern Virginia and by secure video for family members across Virginia or anywhere in the country.
How it works
Free consultation
Any family member can call to describe the situation and talk about who should be involved.
Individual intake
Private conversations with each participant so I understand everyone’s perspective before we meet together.
Facilitated sessions
Structured conversations, with private breakouts when helpful, focused on specific decisions.
Written summary
A Memorandum of Understanding of what the family agreed, for each person to review with their own attorney.
Family estate conversation pricing
These matters fall under my elder care and family estate pricing:
- Family Care Conversation — $950. Up to 3.5 hours: intake with up to three family members and one 2-hour facilitated family meeting.
- Family Care Plan — $2,400. Up to 9 hours: up to two sessions (virtual, in person, or hybrid) and a written Family Care Agreement.
- Complex Elder & Estate Mediation — $3,900. Up to 15 hours for larger or higher-conflict families, including inheritance and estate disagreements.
- Hourly — $275/hour if you prefer to pay as you go.
Why work with Sara
From 2019 to 2021 I worked as a law clerk at an estate planning firm. That experience made me familiar with the documents families encounter — wills, trusts, and powers of attorney — and with how emotional these moments are. As a mediator, I don’t interpret those documents or advise anyone on their rights; I help the family talk.
I’m calm, structured, and genuinely neutral. I have no stake in who gets the dining room table, only in a fair process.
- J.D., University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law; George Mason University alum
- Close to two decades in federal consulting, legal operations, and organizational strategy
- Mediation training: 40-hour basic mediation, 24-hour family mediation, and a 4-hour Virginia Judicial System orientation
- Neutral by design: I don’t practice law, give legal advice, or represent either side
Sibling & inheritance mediation questions
Can you tell us what the will means?
No. I don’t interpret wills, trusts, or other documents or give legal advice. Each family member should talk with their own attorney about their rights. Mediation focuses on how the family communicates and what they can agree on.
Can we mediate while a parent is still living?
Yes, and it can be a gift to everyone. Families often use mediation to talk about care, the house, and expectations while a parent can still share their wishes.
What if one sibling refuses to participate?
Mediation is voluntary. I’m happy to talk with a hesitant family member about how the process works, and sometimes a smaller group starts the conversation.
Can the executor and attorneys be involved?
Yes. With everyone’s agreement, attorneys, an executor, or a financial advisor can attend or review documents.
Is what we say kept confidential?
Generally, yes. Virginia law treats mediation communications as confidential, with limited exceptions, which I explain before we begin.
More answers on the full FAQ page.
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Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839