MMD: Should I split my will equally?

jaybizzl

Wills should be simple otherwise you will be updating them constantly.

% shares are best for everyone - if your estate ends up at £10k and you have bequeathed someone £5k this comes out first for example and the others given "half" will be given half; so £2.5k each

As others have mentioned if you feel strongly gift the money now to your unmarried daughter and keep the will simple.

DSJ

Stop worrying about who gets what when your dead treat your daughters and yourself whilst you can enjoy it it will give you more pleasure.

TBagpuss

OP, it is up to you, but it would be reasonable to either give your elder child money now, or leave her a bit extra.

have you considered talking to your elder daughter? Perhaps offer her a similar amount you gave your younger daughter, now, and make clear that she is free to spend it, or to save it towards a future wedding, whichever she prefers.

(and if she gets married at a later stage, you can decide then whether to give further support, and offer an additional git to your younger daughter too, or whether to leave it on the basis you have already given her the funds)

REJP

Blindingly obvious answer is give your older daughter the same amount you gave your younger daughter, then split the amount you leave equally in your will if that is what you want to do to be fair.

ButterflyLC

I have an older sister and we are relatively close in age, so if I was in this scenario, the fairest way I can see is to set aside cash while you are alive for the unmarried daughter that would be the same amount as you gave your married daughter for the wedding. I would always say split your will 50/50 as that is fair. I would however put in a clause about the money in X account for X amount of money belongs solely to unmarried older daughter as you were saving for her wedding, if she does not get married in your lifetime. It would obviously be her choice to use for a wedding, a deposit on a house, a fancy car, new baby. Tell your daughters what you plan to do though, I'd see this as fair, but flipped round my sister wouldn't.

minicooper272

My friends parents gave his brother a big lump sum to help towards a wedding. When my friend came to buy a house, his parents said the same lump sum was waiting for him, whether he wanted it towards the house then and there, or wanted them to hold off and give it to him for a wedding. He chose to take the money towards a house deposit. I think it would be fair to give your daughter the same offer, that way you can split the will equally.

arielsmelody

If you are writing your will, this is (hopefully) many years before you die - with inflation, £2k in 2018 will buy a lot more than £2k in 2068. And who knows what will happen in the future - care home costs can easily eat up all your savings if you are unlucky enough to need long term care later on.


If you want to be fair and treat them equally, the simplest way is to give the other daughter a similar amount now, then split your estate 50/50 in the will.

happyinflorida

Do you always ask strangers rather than talk to your daughters?!

Personally I'd talk to the daughter who I gave thousands too for the wedding, ask her first if she's ok for you to give money to the other daughter before you die.

This way, by asking her, it will stop any quarrels arising after your death, as that can happen.

Or if you want to leave the other daughter more money, in your will, by asking the daughter who married and had lots of money given to her for the wedding, make sure it's ok with her if you do this by asking her first.

Is there a reason why you're asking strangers rather than just discussing it with your daughters first?

Mojisola

happyinflorida wrote: »

Personally I'd talk to the daughter who I gave thousands too for the wedding, ask her first if she's ok for you to give money to the other daughter before you die.

Why should the daughter who has already had a financial gift be allowed to veto her sister receiving the same benefit?

chesky

I'd tell the daughter, rather than asking her.