Inheritance for Stepchildren?

So his children were 7 and 11 when you met and you've only met them a handful of times? That's very sad that they
aren't part of their father's family.

No way. Don’t disadvantage your own children for the sake of strangers OP. When your DP is living rent-free in your paid-off house, he can start saving for all his children if he wants to.

I'm in almost exactly this situation (except married).

I left all my assets to our joint dc. DH left his between all his dc. So that means if we both died, our joint dc would get my 50% + a third of DH's 50% (66.6% of the estate), and two DSC would get a third of DH's 50% each (ie 16.6% each).

DSC will also inherit from their own mothers of course.

The house will be YOUR asset.

Your assets (including the house) should be split between your children.

Take care when leaving aa life interest with regards to your DH/DC being able to afford to maintain the house. You may want to consider leaving a life assurance policy for him to rehouse himself!

His assets (whatever form they take and however much) should be split between HIS children or. your step children and your children together.

In your situation no I wouldn’t be leaving anything to children that are not mine. It might be different if you’d brought them up from when they were youngsters and you had a good quality step parent relationship with them. I can’t imagine wanting to leave what I have to anybody other than my own children. The people I know who have had this happen to them have found it quite hurtful - that their parent has prioritised somebody else’s child over their own. Everybody knows that inheritance isn’t an entitlement, but it’s still a kick in the teeth.

If you feel strongly enough about it though, do as you wish. At the end of the day it’s your money and you can leave it to whoever you want. What sort of amounts do you want to leave your DP’s children?

Not here I'm afraid. I've known my SD 24 years, been married 21. That was the last time my DC saw her. No interest in having a relationship with me? No inheritance.

Maybe a token amount, if you’re feeling generous, but you don’t know these children, or have a relationship with them.

I wouldn’t get married and risk losing anything to someone who has not brought anything to the table. You don’t have a relationship with your step children to speak of so I don’t think you need to put them in your will. You could leave them a gift instead - piece of jewellery as a momentum but I wouldn’t split cash.

No because I wouldn’t expect anyone to put themselves in that position where they bankroll another adult

As you are not married and don’t have a close relationship with your SC, I wouldnt make it equal BUT I would leave them a share, as they are still part of the family and siblings to your children.

if you were a totally blended family, I would make it more equal.

can I ask why you haven’t married your DP? This will have an impact upon your rights to each others estate

Three things.

Do NOT get married
Get a deed of trust done when you buy to allow him to reside in the property until death.
Do NOT leave the step children anything - they have 2 other parents. Its their job.

If he’s living rent free in your house it would give him time to build up assets, that he could then leave to his children? But regardless, worrying about your will for money in a potential future inheritance feels a bit premature.

No. My first question would be why do you have this set up and what does he contribute?

So it would be your house not dps? Do you plan to get married?
if it’s yours I would leave it to your dc. Your dp can leave any assets he has to his 4 children and your step children will inherit from their mum.

Do you have a partnership? Even if your DH hasn't contributed to your house financially, has he in other ways? If so, I would leave something to them. I'm guessing if he hadn't met you then he'd probably be better off, and quite honestly if you have 2 children together, then his children have most certainly missed out due to your joint children, financially and emotionally. You don't have to of course, but it would be the right thing to do.

Totally agree with this. Stepchildren could potentially be inheriting from 2 parents PLUS 2 step parents. Hard no for me

You would need to own the house outright and then leave a clear Will stating your DP could lift there until death/meets someone else (so his home is protected) but when the time comes it is sold for your children to inherit.

This

Agree.

If you had more of a relationship, 50:50 care or even EOW then you may want to do something but in the circumstances you describe i wouldn't consider his DC as your SDC.

I will likely have a sizeable inheritance. It’s all going to my joint DC with DH. I am not leaving anything to DSC. They have their own parents to inherit from. It won’t be anything like mine, but that’s life.