It's another inheritance one...

Happened to DH, his mum died and the house was left to solely his aunt rather than passing down 50% to him.

Not caused friction yet, but he definitely is hurt by it. His cousin will inherit that when really it could have been split between the two of them.

The black and white thinkers are viewing the shares/figures as though Jane’s kids will inherit all of Jane’s share as well as their own grandparent share - but Jane will be using her 50% share to live on - so there’s the possibility that there will be 0 left.

In that case of Sarah’s kids got to split a 50% share they would end up with far more than the other grandkids.

Of course Jane could die a week after she inherits so then her kids will get a bigger share.

There’s no way to be perfectly fair.

I think it’s incredibly harsh to say it’s like her daughter didn’t count for much because she’s changing her will to reflect she’s no longer there. You have absolutely no idea what support, love, devotion, anything she gave her daughter in her life or how her death impacted her. She could cry morning moon and night for her but it still doesn’t have anything to do with her will, and honestly anyone who equates her will to her not loving or caring about her deceased daughter is absolutely insulting

Honestly the more of these grasping entitled threads I read the more I think that when you die your money should just go to the government. So just be absorbed as death tax. Once you’re dead, the money’s gone.

That way there’s 0 unfairness. No cases of someone inheriting millions while those who didn’t achieve wealth having nothing. And more importantly, none of this grasping entitled behaviour from people just eyeing up the cash before the person’s dead.

That way maybe people would actually spend their money, live some, enjoy their lives, instead of feeling some obligation to work themselves into the ground and go without so their entitled children can inherit.

The way people feel they’re entitled to other people’s money before they’re even dead is disgraceful.

My mum has done something similar in that it gets split three ways (to me and my siblings) but if one of us dies before my mum, that third goes to the children of the sibling instead. If the sibling with no children dies first that third stays in the pot so the remaining two get half each.

The trouble with wills is that most people could nit pick and find something that doesn't seem fair but I agree with an early poster who said that ultimately its not your money until you actually get it.

They should be grateful they’re getting 50k if this was the true scenario! £250k will last 30 years if well invested! I’m guessing you’re Jane and if you were my child I’d change my will leaving you zilch as you’re nothing but money grabbing!

I’m firmly in this camp too. To do otherwise feels as if her deceased daughter and her family didn’t really count for much.

If both daughters were still alive this would have been the case. If this was me I would ensure my sisters children received what I perceive to be fair.

Because Jane’s family will get less each because there are 3 of them and 2 of Janes children ?

That is what most solicitors advise, it’s normal
practice! I’ve know the contents of my mums will, I get a third but should I die before her my son will get my third! No one in my family is arguing about this! The other grandchildren sound greedy and money grabbing! If this was my family my mum would change her will and leave everything to charity!

How is a 50/5o split not equal shares?

Whatever Mary does there will be upset amongst some.

My Mum's will would give 50% to Jane and 50% to Sarah's children. (+ all sorts of random charity donations)

Not modified to 50% + (4 x 12.5%).

We siblings are fine with this (In reality none of us are dead!)

I think Sarah’s share should be divided between her two kids.
I don’t think Sarah’s husband should get anything.
Jane has the other 50%

Why shouldn't Mary leave everything to Jane? She is her daughter, and it's quite usual for inheritance to go to the next generation. Grandchildren often don't get anything at all, as their own parents will leave them what they can.

Sarah's children will inherit from their father, and potentially from a wife if he remarries.

Clearly different people see different things as fair or unfair, but the reality is that whatever Mary wants to do is fair.

Mary probably doesn't divide her GC into Sarah's children and Jane's children. To Mary they are all her equal GC and it's understandable that she would want to treat them equally. Her surviving child gets what she would always have recieved and her GC each get equal shares the remainder.
I think when people quibble like this they fail to take into account that fair is in the eyes of the person making the bequest and their perception of relationships with the beneficiaries rather than their own ideas of 'sides' of the family. To Mary there aren't sides, they're all her family.

Jane can leave her pension pot to her DC, I believe. So it isn’t necessarily gone. Unless the plan is that Jane lives off her inheritance rather than adding it to her pension.

If she doesn't want to cause rifts then she needs to be fair.

It sounds like it's not a huge amount? How much roughly? And did Sarah's kids inherit anything from her.

If it's a small amount - under 200k then Mary is probably right, but if it's a life changing larger amount I'm not sure.

If I were to predecease DM I would hope she would take over that "motherly" role, obviously Mary hasnt, maybe she and Sarah didnt get on?

Also how many DC on each side?
A 50/40/10 split would be fairer,

This. The woman isn't even dead and the vultures are circling. It is her money to do exactly as she chooses whether the family perceive it to be fair or not really isn't up to them.

Poor Mary!

Anyone who tells anyone other than their solicitor the contents of their Will is.... daft (that's the kindest thing I can say about them)

Yeah totally unfair to Sarah’s kids they should have what would of been there mothers share

if my daughter died before us her share when the surviving souse has died would go to the grandchildren, as my sil will inherit from his father.