The new book starts with a list of 21 warning signs that a family war may be in your future. Then it moves on to a selection of real-life family war stories, like the antler tale related above.

Les and his co-authors also talk about what you need to know if you are an executor, and what you need to know if you're a beneficiary. They discuss estate litigation, offering some strategies to avoid it, but outlining how to win an estate battle if one should occur.

Because sometimes, Les says, courtroom fights are inevitable.

"If you know that there's a lion in the den, and your brother knows that there's a lion in the den, wouldn't you both say, 'Let's not walk into the den. Let's try to work this out beforehand?' ... But sometimes, your brother won't care about the lion and would rather get eaten himself than have you get something."

The book is written in plain language and uses many examples to help make its points clear.

"The premise of the book is not to get families to fight more. It's to get settlement," Les says.

"To us, the family is the most important asset you have, and the book is geared toward trying to win the family war by winning the family."

For more information on the book, or to order a copy, go online to thefamilywar.com or call 877-439-3999. The cost is $28.95, plus $7.95 shipping and handling.

Whatever resource you use, you should start thinking now about how to avoid future conflicts with siblings or other relatives. After all, your family is worth fighting for, and you'll be better off if you're prepared for that fight.

If you have a financial question, please send it to gkratz@desnews.com or to the Deseret Morning News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, UT 84110.

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E-mail: gkratz@desnews.com