Inheritance when one child has kids, the other does not

[Anonymous]

If one of your adult children has kids, and the other is childfree, would that affect how you complete your will/ inheritance?

[Anonymous]

Give each child the same amount. It’s okay to give a set amount of money to grandchildren though. Money given to grandchildren doesn’t mean that one kid is getting more.

[Anonymous]

I am a firm believer in giving two each child evenly, including the amount given to grandchildren.

One option is to divide it into two trusts. Your children should each be the beneficiary-trustee of their own trust. The remaindermen should be the grandchildren. If one child has not had kids, that child should have the option to leave the remainder to any of your grandkids or to charity.

Or, give half to the child with no kids. Give the other half to the family of the child with kids: give seventy percent to the child and divide the other thirty percent among that child's kids.

But don't do it so that one kid's side of the family collectively gets more just because they had grandkids.

For one, what is the childless kid has kids down the road, winds up with stepkids etc? but even if that doesn't happen, it just isn't fair to give more to the sibling with kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a firm believer in giving two each child evenly, including the amount given to grandchildren.

One option is to divide it into two trusts. Your children should each be the beneficiary-trustee of their own trust. The remaindermen should be the grandchildren. If one child has not had kids, that child should have the option to leave the remainder to any of your grandkids or to charity.

Or, give half to the child with no kids. Give the other half to the family of the child with kids: give seventy percent to the child and divide the other thirty percent among that child's kids.

But don't do it so that one kid's side of the family collectively gets more just because they had grandkids.

For one, what is the childless kid has kids down the road, winds up with stepkids etc? but even if that doesn't happen, it just isn't fair to give more to the sibling with kids.

I would be upset if I got 70% of what my sibling got and my kids got my share instead. Grandchildren should be provided for separately. I want my sibling and I to have equal amounts.

[Anonymous]

No. Absolutely not. 50/50

[Anonymous]

Equally to each kid. Otherwise, in except for rare circumstances, there will be issues.

[Anonymous]

Equally to each kid. Otherwise, in except for rare circumstances, there will be issues.

[Anonymous]

Skip a generation and send it all to the grandkids. You do want your lineage to continue, correct? What is the child free child going to do with the money? Donate it to scam charities? C’mon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip a generation and send it all to the grandkids. You do want your lineage to continue, correct? What is the child free child going to do with the money? Donate it to scam charities? C’mon.

Why is the child free kid child free? That is important. Can they not have kids? If so, why should they be penalized?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip a generation and send it all to the grandkids. You do want your lineage to continue, correct? What is the child free child going to do with the money? Donate it to scam charities? C’mon.

I hate when people say this. People without kids are not less valuable than people with kids. I have kids but a sibling doesn’t. They should not see my kids getting what should have been their half of an inheritance

[Anonymous]

Nope. I don’t want to be a drama queen in death.

[Anonymous]

Also, is there any chance either child would have more children? Look at setting things up such that there is a set dollar amount that will be divided equally among any living grandchildren, and the. 50-50 of the remainder to your two children.

That way you aren’t updating your will if you have another grandchild or you forget to do so and inadvertently cut one out.

[Anonymous]

Even.

You can also given money directly to grandchildren via a trust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Skip a generation and send it all to the grandkids. You do want your lineage to continue, correct? What is the child free child going to do with the money? Donate it to scam charities? C’mon.

That is their right. HTH is $$ going to continue my lineage? Sex is free.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I guess I’m the outlier but my sibling and I both have kids, but one has more. I would be completely fine with my parents adjusting for the more kids or for our relative personal financial position generally.

I mean I think they already do because of annual gifts to each kid?

The important context here I guess is that we all have enough money and the grandparents are very generous and always have been.

But also it almost makes more sense to me to split by grandchild because by the time there’s an actual inheritance caused by death, the children will be pretty old anyway?

I would also be fine with/expect a bit adjustment if anyone needs a special needs trust.