Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know it depends on the state, but when I had my will drafted my attorney made clear that I could have left nothing to my kids but could not leave nothing to my husband. husband had the right to get a big chunk. check with an attorney but your idea to leave everything to the kids may not work out.

I think you can leave "your" stuff to whoever you want, but for most people, assets in the marriage are joint, so they can't just be taken away from the surviving spouse. I don't think OP has been back, but I don't understand why she would will, or try to will, her $ and physical stuff to her kids. That would seem to need to automatically go to her husband.

Your sibling don't need chotskies. I have a lifetime of memories with my sibling, I don't need them to will me a bunch of crap in their will.

I thought it was odd to, but then I realized DH is probably stepfather to kids, not their father. At least that's the only way this makes sense to me, anyway.

It should be straightforward. You leave it all to your DH. If he predeceases you then it's divided equally among your kids. The only exception might be family heirlooms, although even those I'd leave to the kids.

If kids are under 18 it's way more important to think about who will be their guardian and who will manage their money (we made this 2 different people). If they are over 18 then they probably don't want your stuff, there will be an estate sale and/or donations and proceeds divided. When MIL passed away recently a few grandchildren took a couple of things but the vast majority was donated.

Just leave everything to your husband and kids. If you do give something to sibs, give an equal amount of cash. Like $x for Mary, Jen, etc. you will just create problems if you say Mary gets he clock, Jen gets the tea cup.

Anonymous wrote:I know it depends on the state, but when I had my will drafted my attorney made clear that I could have left nothing to my kids but could not leave nothing to my husband. husband had the right to get a big chunk. check with an attorney but your idea to leave everything to the kids may not work out.

I think you can leave "your" stuff to whoever you want, but for most people, assets in the marriage are joint, so they can't just be taken away from the surviving spouse. I don't think OP has been back, but I don't understand why she would will, or try to will, her $ and physical stuff to her kids. That would seem to need to automatically go to her husband.

Your sibling don't need chotskies. I have a lifetime of memories with my sibling, I don't need them to will me a bunch of crap in their will.

I know it depends on the state, but when I had my will drafted my attorney made clear that I could have left nothing to my kids but could not leave nothing to my husband. husband had the right to get a big chunk. check with an attorney but your idea to leave everything to the kids may not work out.

Anonymous wrote:I'd try to find a token for them all, honestly. Doesn't have to be valuable. It would hurt to know you left things to a few of our siblings specifically but not me. Why leave the ill will behind?

This. You will be setting up problems between your siblings and creating hurt. Why would you want that to be your final act?