1. The Client’s Crisis

The client wanted to receive a sufficient statutory share of the inherited property, worth approximately KRW 1.5 billion, left by the client’s late parents, and also to have an additional contributive share recognized for supporting the parents. However, the other siblings were also strongly insisting on their own contributive shares and claiming that they should receive a larger portion. With the parties’ positions sharply opposed, it was difficult to determine a fair division ratio through amicable agreement, and the matter seemed likely to escalate into litigation. After visiting Jaejae Law Firm several times for consultations, the client entrusted the case to us.

2. Key Issues

The difficulty in this case came down to three major points. First, because several siblings were simultaneously claiming contributive shares, we had to objectively prove how the client’s contribution differed from that of the other siblings. Simply showing that the client had lived near the parents and supported them for a long time was not enough for contributive share recognition. Second, since the inheritance of KRW 1.5 billion had to be divided among multiple siblings, pursuing litigation would have caused significant expense and time burdens, which could ultimately have been more detrimental to the client. Third, depending on whether any assets had been gifted during the parents’ lifetime to other heirs, the final distribution amount could change, so it was necessary to first accurately determine the overall asset status.

3. Jaejae’s Strategy

Managing Attorney Yoon Ji-sang, a former Chief Judge of the Family Court, and Attorney Kim Deok-hwan determined that resolving the matter through negotiation rather than litigation would be more practically beneficial to the client, and they designed a negotiation strategy accordingly.

We began by accurately identifying the total amount of the inherited estate. At the same time, we carefully verified whether any assets had been gifted during the parents’ lifetime to the other heirs. We also actively gathered information about whether any sibling who had not visited the parents while they were alive had suddenly come forward after hearing of the opening of the estate, and whether the basis asserted by the other sibling claiming a contributive share was valid.

Based on his experience as a former Chief Judge of the Family Court, Managing Attorney Yoon Ji-sang assessed the scope of the contributive share that the client could clearly have recognized, and Attorney Kim Deok-hwan secured objective supporting materials and organized them meticulously. Drawing on his ability to analyze legal principles accumulated through complex inheritance disputes, Attorney Kim Deok-hwan devised a negotiation proposal that also anticipated the counterarguments the opposing siblings might raise. Based on this, we patiently continued discussions with the other siblings and gradually adjusted the amounts that could be mutually agreed upon.

4. Result and Recovery

The matter was resolved amicably through negotiation without litigation. In addition to the statutory inheritance share, the client was able to secure a reasonable inheritance amount by having a modest contributive share recognized. By resolving the dispute through negotiation instead of a costly and time-consuming lawsuit, the parties also left room for repairing the relationship between siblings.

Responsible Attorneys: Managing Attorney Yoon Ji-sang · Attorney Kim Deok-hwan

To protect confidentiality, this case has been partially de-identified to the extent that it does not compromise the substance of the matter.