One of the advantages of having an estate plan is that there's less chance that your family and other beneficiaries (or people who think they should be beneficiaries) will battle over your assets. Even if you have a close-knit family whom you're certain would never turn on one another, the sad fact is that money combined with long-simmering resentments can cause serious family battles.
You don't have to disclose the contents of your estate plan to your family. However, if you're making decisions that you think could surprise or disappoint people, it might be best to let them know about them while you're still around. The important thing is that they understand that you were fully aware of your decisions, have reasons for them and haven't been unduly influenced by anyone.
