Territories left in the hands of relatives often caused disputes between vassals (legitimate heirs) and these relatives (illegitimate children) over these territories, and in such cases, relatives were sometimes allowed to succeed as land stewards.
親族に管理させた場合、御家人（惣領）とその親族（庶子）との間で所領を巡る相論が発生することもあり、親族に地頭職を譲渡するケースもあった。