In recent years, the popularity of at-home DNA testing kits has skyrocketed. Companies like the popular 23andMe have made it easier than ever for individuals to explore their genetic heritage, uncover health predispositions and even connect with distant relatives. While these kits offer fascinating insights into our biology and ancestry, they’ve also introduced a new layer of complexity to estate planning. Unexpected revelations from DNA tests are causing headaches for families and legal professionals alike, raising questions about inheritance rights, family dynamics and the legal implications of newly discovered relatives.
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To avoid these types of unexpected disputes, estate planners can advise clients to draft documents that explicitly state whether biological relatives, adopted children or stepchildren are included in the inheritance. However, this approach isn’t always so straightforward. For example, some clients might be reluctant to disclose that they have potential children from an affair, while others may not even be aware that they exist. According to Sean R. Weissbart, co-chair of Blank Rome’s Tax, Benefits, And Private Client Practice Group, “Executing and fully funding a Living Revocable Trust can also help by avoiding probate and the legal requirement that comes with it to notify a decedent’s next of kin, giving a ‘ticket’ to the disinherited to start trouble for their own financial benefit.”
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"DNA Testing Kits Are Causing Challenges in Estate Planning," by Anna Sulkin Stern was published in WealthManagement.com on December 17, 2025.
