Disputes over household items during the clean out of a deceased loved one's home are destroying sibling relationships, experts claim.
Money and property are generally considered the driving forces of conflict during the division of a deceased estate.
However, according to The Property Clearance Company co-founder and director Bob Morton, family rifts often begin because legal wills only cover significant assets.
Mr Morton said they rarely detail who gets the furniture, jewellery, collections, tools or sentimental mementos inside the home.
"In our work, we've seen families who were close for decades stop speaking because of disagreements over possessions," he said.
"The tension is rarely about the financial value alone, it's about fairness, transparency and emotion. If even one person feels shut-out or treated unequally, trust can break down in an instant."
The discovery that items are missing, have been taken early or are being claimed without agreement can immediately spark suspicion and distrust during a time when emotions are already running high.
"Valuable items such as gold jewellery, antique furniture, art or rare collectibles are common triggers, but even everyday items like kitchenware, tools or family keepsakes can become a source of tension once their sentimental or resale value is recognised," Mr Morton said.
Mr Morton said disputes also often escalated over sentimental items such as photo albums, handwritten recipes, holiday souvenirs or heirlooms that cannot be replaced.
"When grief is fresh, emotions run high and logic can take a back seat," he said.
"A tea set or a set of old chisels might not mean much to one person, but to another, it's priceless, financially or emotionally," he added.
MORE: 22yo Aussie spends $50k to live on houseboat
According to Mr Morton, unless a parent has specifically listed every item and allocated it to someone, families are left to sort it out themselves without a clear process, leading to disagreements.
"Without structure and transparency, the process becomes a breeding ground for suspicion and bitterness," he said.
"We've seen families destroyed over something as small as a clock or a lamp because the process wasn't handled properly."
Because of the emotion at play, Mr Morton said it was best to bring in a professional, independent party to assist with the valuation and division of the parent's belongings.
MORE: Shock sum paid for roofless wreck burnt in fire
This approach can remove doubt as well as potentially uncovering the value of items that might otherwise be overlooked.
If items are sold, the proceeds can be placed into a central trust account for equal distribution among family members.
Mr Morton said he has previously found $8,000 artwork under a bed, a rare vintage handbag in a cupboard and a tool collection that sold for thousands of dollars, all of which could easily have been discarded or sold for next to nothing.
"The grief of losing a parent is hard enough without also losing your siblings," he said.
"When you take away secrecy and replace it with a clear, documented process, you protect both the estate's value and the relationships that matter most.