We all have the right to do whatever we want with our estate. If you want to leave unequal distributions, that is your business. However, experts agree that leaving unequal distributions can lead to more legal challenges to your estate’s distribution as well as to more anguish and conflict between your heirs. Sometimes heirs think that money and assets equal love and admiration. What are your thoughts LiveTribers? Would you divide your estate unequally between children?
Posted by on 14 Nov 2022
Yes I would divide then equally, so my children would know I love them equally.
Normally it is fair to divide it equally between your children. However if you had a disabled child who wasn't able to work, it would be fair to leave them more (because of these extenuating circumstances). Make sure you get a solicitor to draw up a will and power of attorney. I know personally a person who married a millionaire and was left financially worse off when the person died.
Never, no matter what the circumstances your children are there because you chose to keep them so to pick and choose if 1 gets a bigger or smaller inheritance is morally wrong and that sort of act is what makes families so distant in some cases
My executor knows the reasons why the estate is being left in the way I have chosen. I doubt that there will be any contest.
I would, Im actually executor and some other fun title, so I get it all and it's up to me how to divide(meaning it's being left to me and then wishes have been given but not written down).
We would and do intend to leave our estate equally between our children
Yes, i certainly would. If one of my children did nothing at all to help me later on in life, they deserve nothing.
I don't have kids but I am leaving everything to one sister and nothing to the other as she is wealthy and doesn't need my assets.
Even when you leave equal distributions there are still disputes occurring which i have been affected by. No matter how you structure your will some will not be happy and the solicitors love that.
There would have to be a severe inequality in the circumstances of the children. If one of them was a teacher and the other a hedge fund manager then i would 100% consider the impact any money left would have on their lives. If one child took on the majority of the caring duties of elderly parents for example i would make allowances for that. But i would make this very clear before hand and it would have to be a substantial difference.
Will definitely divide equally as that is fair.
I would certainly not divide unequally between my children...
I've made sure it's equal, as it's not worth the risk of any of them contesting and therefore wasting money and effort on fighting. Not to mention the impact on their relationships.
I will split it evenly between the kids only fair way
Yes, my son is a paraplegic, and his sister is wealthy
Yes, we will equally divide our assets between our children. We have discussed this with them and I'm sure they will work together to execute our wishes.
I've always done everything equally with our children... spending the same on them for birthdays, Xmas etc and I would do exactly the same with my will. It would be unfair of me to favour one over the other.
Definitely , last thing I’d wantis my kids fighting over stupid crap once I’m dead
I would be dividing it equally, the last thing they need after I pass is an argument over who gets what
I'm plan on leaving my estate divided between my only child and charities. Of course I'll need to tell my daughter so she doesn't get a shock. its my money to do with what i wish.
yes
It seems to me it would be prudent to let family members know what's in your Will. There's nothing like disputes over money to create trouble and family estrangements. Leaving a child out of a Will is possible but can be contested...and is often overturned. Seek legal advice!!
I have 6 children and many grandchildren. Luckily we are able to share our estate equally between our children. One of my daughters has nuilt a home and one of her grandsons lives with her. He is like her right hand. he is supportive and helpful with no thought of reward. Some of her other grandchildren , plus her own children, couldn;'t even be bothered to visit her when she went to their state to visit HER parents. She had to go to THEM. And then it seemed to be a bit of an inconvenience. She wants to leave her home to the lad who lives with her and is there for her always. I see nothing wrong with that but I know there will be an outcry when she is gone.
I wouldn’t divide my estate equally between my offspring. They need to make their own way in life. I will help, however they need to appreciate that financial gains is not an easy route to happiness.
I don't have any children. If I do, I would distribute my wealth according to the financial needs of the children but I would discuss it with them first.
I think dividing an estate into unequal amounts in a will for your children is asking for trouble. The children with the least amount will feel unappreciated and overlooked by a parent. All should be divided between children equally
Even if the will is divided equally, all it takes is one sibling hassling the other about when is the money coming to cause trouble as well. Unfortunately, the death of a mother doesn't matter, just the money, which they are entitled to, but you can't rush the probate and the sibling seems to think it's instantaneous, even after reminding them of the case.
Apparently most contested wills are successful.....soooo.....make sure your Will is fair and equitable regardless of Family spats!
It's up to the individual as to who they leave their estate to and what proportion they leave. For various personal reasons I have written my will leaving different proportions to different people. IMO challenges to wills should not be considered if they are legally binding and written while the person is of sound mind and understands what they are doing.
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