MMD: Should I split my will equally?

Former_MSE_Naomi

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

I'm updating my will, and plan to leave everything to my two daughters. When my younger daughter got married a few years ago, I gave her several thousand pounds towards the wedding. So should my older daughter get more in my will, or is it fairer to split everything equally?

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply!

Got a money moral dilemma of your own? [URL="mailto: mmd@moneysavingexpert.com"]Suggest an MMD[/URL].

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

hazyjo

I'd leave a clause saying if she's not got married before you die, then she'll get £X on top.

Gavin83

Just give the older daughter the money before death (soon) and split the will equally.

onomatopoeia99

Give the older daughter the several thousand pounds now, because why would you treat them differently based on whether or not they have gone through a ritual, and then split things equally in the will.

ska_lover

I would give them the same.

riotlady

Yeah, give the older daughter several thousand for her next big life event (whether it's buying a house, having a kid, graduating) and then split it equally.

Owain_Moneysaver

It's entirely up to you. Presumably you got the pleasure of going to the wedding you contributed to, and your married daughter didn't get married just to get the money, so there's no real reason why the unmarried daughter should feel left out. It's just the way life has panned out.

Dox

Another imaginary 'dilemma'. Depends how much you have to leave; if it will be tens or hundreds of thousands, a few thousand either way is irrelevant. If your total assets are only a few grand, then leave the unmarried daughter a sum equal to (and explain why).

gloriouslyhappy

You could always put an equivalent sum in a separate savings account, with instructions that the proceeds of the account be given to the older daughter and then your remaining estate be divided equally between the two daughters in the event that she doesn't marry while you're still around.

You could always give her the money now, but then might find yourself feeling obligated to contribute again should she marry later, thus feeling the younger daughter would be left short, this could be an endless dilemma which the separate savings account would prevent.

PeacefulWaters

Just even up what you give while you're alive and write a 50/50 will.

Not exactly rocket science.

silvercar

You can't keep rewriting your will every single time a costly event occurs for one of your children.