A worried couple fears that their estate plan could worsen the rift between their two sons. Seeking advice from “Asking Eric,” they learn that, despite their best intentions, shielding one child from another’s resentment may be more complicated than they hoped.

A family is torn when a man’s long-time mistress arrives at his funeral, accompanied by their child. Now, the grieving relatives must decide if she should be barred from the service and whether her right to grieve outweighs their own feelings of betrayal.

A recent letter to an advice column highlights a frustrated sister’s plea for relief from relentless one-upmanship. Despite her best efforts to shift conversations onto neutral ground, she finds herself overshadowed by her sibling’s constant need for attention.