"Surprisingly, it's not unusual for there to be family strife over a will when a loved one dies," says Roseanne Tobey, LPC. "Often times, people assign emotional value to tangible items because it's a way for them to channel their grief."

In other words, it's unlikely the family is upset over the car per se, but rather over the loss of their father. After all, they can hardly be angry with Newman for dying, so directing their feelings at an object (say, a Ferrari) gives their anger a specific target.

"What's more, if the car held any significance to Newman, his kids may feel he's giving away something they want to keep in the family--and that ultimately, he's giving away a piece of him," Tobey adds.

Another possibility: "His children may view their father's dying wishes as a reflection of his feelings for them." So however Newman may have divided his assets, it's likely that someone--somewhere down the line--internalized any gesture as a slight.

And money has little to do with how much fighting occurs over a will. "Tension and arguing around the time of death is more reflective of pre-existing problems in the family and their coping skills as a unit, rather than an attempt to claim possessions."

The bottom line: "It's difficult to judge anyone's actions when they're dealing with grief because you never know what goes on behind closed doors," Tobey says. "When emotions run high, there's no telling how people will react."

Do you think having conflict over a will is common--or just plain tacky?