Elkhorn, Wis.–The Wrigley family, famed for its chewing gum, finds itself facing an age-old problem for families with “old money”: how to make sure a nasty probate dispute doesn’t threaten the best-laid succession plans for the children.

The drama of such a nasty fight has begun. But it appears that years of good lawyering and smart estate planning may wind up saving the family hundreds of millions of dollars in the struggle.