It's another inheritance one...

Poor Mary - I sense she is trying to do what feels right to get and sees it as all the GC getting the same. I would just reassure her that it is her decision. Nobody is entitled to an inheritance and views on how things are done are always subjective so there is no absolutely correct answer.

If the grandchildren are being greedy, then 50% to Jane and 50% to the cats’ home.

I find these inheritance threads fascinating. People have such black and white views about what is the correct way to do these things!

This is presumably not a huge estate, and Mary is assuming that the money Jane inherits will be needed to live off, and therefore she won’t be passing any of Mary’s money on to her children. Therefore Mary wants to ensure that all the grandchildren get some inheritance, and also provides for her own daughter.

I think this is a perfectly reasonable way of going about this, and generally people should learn to respect the wishes of the person whose money it was.

Be annoyed about it in private, sure, you are human, but keep it to yourself and don’t suggest you had any right to demand different.

I would do 25% to Jane, 12.5% to each of Jane’s children.
Sarah’s widower and children would then get 17% each.

Or Jane and her DC could get 17% each.

It could have gone two other ways: 50% to Jane and 50% to Sarah's DC, or leaving it all to the surviving child.
I think she's trying to bridge the gap between these two options - I can see why she wants to help her surviving child and ease the money worries in retirement tbh. I can also see why Sarah's GC are a bit disgruntled, but if I was one of those GC I would be holding my peace. Nothing worse than people grasping for inheritance.
It's not a bad way to do it tbh - all the GC get an equal share on their grandmother's death, and Jane's DC have no guarantee of a sum on Jane's death, as it might all go on pension/living expenses/care home fees.

I think the will should basically remain the same as it was before Sarah's death. i.e. the grandchildren receive their £5k to £10k and their parents (Jane and Sarah's spouse in this case) receive half each of the rest. Having said that it's up to Mary and the GC should quit moaning

Sounds fair that the grandchildren get the same amount. Jane could spend it all and not leave any to her children.

Well quite. But apparently it's ok that they're being grubby and greedy because they lost their mum earlier than they should have.

Its pretty much what happened in my family. GPs had 4 daughters - 2 of whom died before them. Original plan was that inheritance was split 4 ways. The 2 surviving daughters got 25% each and then the grandchildren from the deceased daughters shared their own mothers 25%. My GF changed his will so that all the GC shared the remaining 50% between them even where their parents also inherited. So in my case, instead of 12.5% I inherited 5%. My cousins were very unhappy they got 5% instead of 6.25% though. It was not a big estate.

Sarah isn't here so can't take a share so the money has been redistributed. Seems sensible to me. Her children ought to shut up and think themselves lucky to get anything at all. Who do they think they are to feel entitled to someone else's money? Shameful behaviour.

This is how wills are set up in general. If a child predeceases their parent their share flows down to the deceased’s children. The inheritance flows down to the other grandchildren via their parents. As said above it’s 50% to Janes family and 50% to Sarah’s. Ultimately, it’s Mary’s decision and quite frankly there may be nothing in the pot by the time she passes on. Personally, I think Mary should spunk the lot on cruises and living a fun and full life.

They’re technically right but morally wrong. They’ll get something now rather then an uncertain amount much later. And still have the uncertain amount depending on what their Dad leaves them.
Absolutely shitty to do anything other than mull about it privately though.

My will leaves everything to my two sons. If either of them predecease me and had children their share is split equally between their children (my grandchildren). If there are no grandchildren then my surviving son gets everything.

If she hadn't written a will it would have gone 50% to living daughter and 50% split between the dead daughter's children. Living daughter's children would inherit from her in the future.

That's the fairest way, in my opinion. Those poor children lost their mum - they shouldn't lose out financially on top of that.

But that’s not equal shares.

Equal amounts between Jane and the grandchildren.

I think it should be split in 2.
50 to jane family
50 to Sarah family

My brother died 7 years ago. When my mam died 2 years ago, her estate was still split 5 ways. My brother’s daughter got his share. I think that was right.

Has anyone spoken to Mary about the implications of her new Will, and how it makes Sarah's children feel?

I think half the problems are that people don't discuss their plans when they're around to explain their reasoning.

Yeah, they’re really “lucky” to have lost their mum while they were young 😢

Should be 50/50 between the children, therefore Sarah’s children should have her 50% divided between them. No other option is fair.

It's up to Mary what she does. I think it would be fairer for Sarah's children to receive 'Sarah's' half, but only Mary gets to decide.