Family inheritance problem

74jax

Primrose wrote: »

Family relationships are always complicated but just as your daughter has the right to make her will as she wishes, so do you. i think it highly likely that she and her husband will have made mirror wills to avoid arguments.

I think you have several choices, but the two main ones being:

1. Leave this particular daughter's share of your inheritance in trust so that she can use the income during her lifetime, but on her death, her share is divided equally between your grandaughters. This of course would mean appointing trustees and in the event of avoiding family arguments this might mean appointing solicitors or family friends as trustees.

2. Leave this particular daughter out of your will and leave the money directly to your granddaughters but leave her an explanatory letter saying why you made the decision.

Imagine though getting that letter and the daughters will doesn't even leave it to the step children (it's all hearsay remember). Or getting that letter and the step children are very much part of their lives. Even getting the letter when the daughter really could do with the money to spend now (now keep to pass down). So many what ifs.

chesky

I wouldn't do anything and not tell them all - everyone knows what's in my will.

Perhaps it'll be taken out of my hands in the end anyway - might be all used up in care home fees.

Primrose

Why not then divide your inheritance equally between your two daughters and yiur granddaughters .
Yiur remarried daughter can do what she likes with her inheritance if she wants to divide it amongst her newer family members yet your blood line granddaughters won't suffer because they have been separately provided for.

pip895

One of the most important things you can try to leave in your will is family harmony.

The other sons may be estranged from their father but maybe your son in law wants to ensure that he dose nothing to estrange his "in touch" son from his brothers.