are you leaving $ to siblings or parents in your will?

[Anonymous]

No GD way. All to kids. As second choice, all to alma mater.

[Anonymous]

To the kids but you need a back-up if the entire family perishes at once. Then it goes to some charities and my sister's family. If they're all dead, to my parents. If they're dead too, fuck it.

[Anonymous]

All to the kids - my sibling has made some unbelievably bad decisions and there's no way I'd leave money to what would turn into yet another "get rick quick" scheme.

[Anonymous]

Everything (other than personal effects) goes in a trust for 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

no

[Anonymous]

yes, about $200k to my mom. She is able to take care of herself now but she made a lot of sacrifices for us when we were growing up and I want her to have a comfortable retirement if I'm not around to insist on it.

I trust that if she doesn't need it or doesn't need it all she would leave it right back to my kids in my absence, and she wont piss it away.

[Anonymous]

I am surprised at how many people would not leave money to siblings or parents. We would absolutely leave money to our parents; after all, they sacrificed tremendously to raise us and it is through their sacrifice that we're able to put aside money at all. I don't understand this whole "they're grown-ups" thing. If your parents could use your help, why wouldn't you make sure to provide for them? Especially if the choice is between giving your children more than they need and giving your parents what they need.

As for siblings, whether or not they made good choices, they're family. If I could help them, I would. Would I leave money for a sibling is is doing extremely well? No. But one who needs my help? Of course.

[Anonymous]

As a couple other pps states, I would absolutely leave money to my parents and siblings. My parents are wonderful people, and unfortunately will not be able to retire as they are not well off financially at all. I will always try to help them as I can.

As for my siblings.. we are very close and they would help me, so why not?

[Anonymous]

All to kid, except for in the case we all go together. I am an only child and he has a moron brother with 2 kids living at their parents' house. In case we all die in a car wreck or plane crash or something, all our money is to be placed in a trust for our niece and nephew. My understanding is that unless there is a special instruction in your will, the estate is divided equally between the 2 families. While I'm sure it would be nice for both sets of grandparents to get some money, I want to leave something to the next generation. Plus, I don't ever want any of our money to pass through my BIL's hands - it would be gone in a short amount of time and none of it would have been spent on anything worthwhile and they would STILL be camped out in my IL's 3 BR house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised at how many people would not leave money to siblings or parents. We would absolutely leave money to our parents; after all, they sacrificed tremendously to raise us and it is through their sacrifice that we're able to put aside money at all. I don't understand this whole "they're grown-ups" thing. If your parents could use your help, why wouldn't you make sure to provide for them? Especially if the choice is between giving your children more than they need and giving your parents what they need.

As for siblings, whether or not they made good choices, they're family. If I could help them, I would. Would I leave money for a sibling is is doing extremely well? No. But one who needs my help? Of course.

My mother is dead. My father remarried to a witch, in favor of whom he disinherited his children. My brother is a ne'er do well who openly mocks me for having an 8 to 5 job. Any questions about why I leave nothing to my father or brother now?

[Anonymous]

If we had the wealth that some DCUM posters do, we'd leave some to our siblings (our parents are pretty well off). But we don't, so it all goes to the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not recommend leaving money to anyone but your children as part of the will. I think it confused the estate and opens up the door to resentment. Also, as a practical matter, you never really know how much your child may need (think long-term illness or unemployment.)

It is incredibly generous of you to want to help out the rest of your family. My suggestion would be that you do it now. If you have the money to spare and your BIL is feeling squeezed, offer to pay for the new water heater, or whatever. Or just send an anonymous check.
You may have 6mil or whatever now, and the 10% you may leave to your parents isn't a big deal, but if your circumstances change dramatically and you do not end up changing your will, you could end up giving your children $600 instead of $6,000,000.

I agree. Do you really know the financial situation of everyone in your families. You may think you do... but I can guarantee you don't. And randomly divying it up based on what you think you know sounds like a disaster.

But I think the biggest issue is with the guardians of your children. They will be assuming a MAJOR financial responsibility and risk by taking your children on. Why wouldn't you leave them everything? Any number of unforseen health/job/financial situations could arise and you dont want to end up screwing these people over along with your children.[/quote]

We have entrusted one person with being the guardian of the children and another to manage the financial affairs for the children. I don't want to leave the money to the guardian because it is for the children long term. If you leave it to the guardian who knows what might be left when the children are 18.