Dorothy Linden

"Basically always about the same thing: who was daddy's favorite?"

Ms. Linden, what are the bitterest issues in the case of inheritance?

Coins, furniture or paintings, all of these objects are mostly just proxy. It's almost always about sensitivities. I would formulate the question differently: Which questions keep coming up? Basically, it's always about the same thing: who was daddy's favorite? Who took care of the parents? Who gave up their own interests for this? Has it even been appreciated within the family that one cares and the other does not? How were the grandchildren treated, were some preferred and not others? People have always fought over inheritance. Terrible inheritance disputes have existed since time immemorial. It can be observed, however, that there is a growing awareness that it is gentler for everyone if one treats each other sensibly. I would say: The will to come to an agreement has increased.

You can find the full interview with Dorothée Linden in our book: