How to avoid a major pitfall inherent in family business succession plans

A successful Florida auto parts manufacturer was started 28 years ago by a husband and wife, and eventually their two sons joined the company.  Their youngest child, a daughter, was never interested in working at the family firm. 

When the father died, the mother continued to run the business with her sons. But she unexpectedly died a year after her husband passed away.

Since the parents loved their children equally, the estate plan divided their entire estate evenly among all three children.  Their two most important planning goals were to treat the children fairly, and be assured the business would be run by the two boys, who were active in the company.