A survey of wealthy families shows that far more of them would like to choose another way of picking a member who can lead its affairs rather than under the old system of giving the reins to a first-born son.
The traditional primogeniture system is still used by many families particularly as it does at least set out a rule to be followed, possibly removing the need for acrimonious argument. However, many families prefer to adopt a different process, according to a study by Stonehage Fleming, the UK-based multi-family office.