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Original poster

Who are you leaving your money to when you die if you don't have kids?

37 replies

IRememberXanadu · 16/07/2022 15:59

I don't have children, I'm divorced and in a new relationship. I have one brother but am not close to him. I need to redo my will but I have no idea who to leave my estate to. Charity? Who are other people in my situation leaving their estate to?

OP posts:
Zarzuela · 16/07/2022 19:43

I'm no longer in this situation but when I was, my poorest friend (didn't tell them) and my school. I would have more to leave now so would share it out between three friends or direct to their children, who would need it more.

Luredbyapomegranate · 16/07/2022 19:45

Nephews/nieces/godchildren/friends kids. If I had a skint friend I would prioritise them.

piratehooker · 16/07/2022 19:57

Charity!

Currently it's bulk to my OH, a proportion to charity and a proportion to my 2 siblings. But obviously will depend how long I have left and how lax I am at updating as circumstances change!

There's nothing wrong with your charity suggestion, especially as you're not all that close to your sibling and in a new relationship. You can always change later.

I like PP's suggestion of a friend in need possibly too, never considered that!

Costacoffeeplease · 16/07/2022 19:58

Small local charities, and someone I know who has had a tough life

Blackdiame · 16/07/2022 20:00

I plan to spend most of it but if there's any left it'll go to my brother.

ifonly4 · 16/07/2022 20:04

We made our Will before we had DD, but it's covered to go to children, then grandchildren. After that, we've give my DM a legagy of 10k as she gave us that sum unconditionally when we got married, and we've each chosen a charity to leave money to. After that we've decided in two, my half goes to DM, DH's goes to his siblings. If my DM or a sibling doesn't survive, it gets divided between nieces and nephews, including those born within a year of our death.

Janesdufflecoat · 16/07/2022 20:10

Niece & Nephew, their kids then to Charity!

My friends are all pretty ok but if they weren't I would make them a priority!

RedCarsGoFaster · 16/07/2022 20:16

Husband, but if things change then I have 3 nephews with a 4th niece or nephew on the way.

Plus various specific gifts - jewellery and my wardrobe go to my best friend for example. She will be asked to charity shop what doesn't suit or fit her, but I know there's lots she'd like. Probably a few pieces of jewellery to another friend's daughter as well.

Whadda · 16/07/2022 20:17

I’m going to have exceptionally wealthy nieces, nephews, and godkids.

SweatyChamoisPad · 16/07/2022 20:18

Split between my late brother’s daughter, my friend’s three kids, and the hospices that cared for my mum and dad.

I was left £15k in my thirties by my dad’s cousin. It was so unexpected that I resolved to spend it on something to remember him by. So I spent part of it on an out-of-my-comfort-zone trip to India and Nepal, which opened my eyes to a whole new world of travel. My legacy is left to my beneficiaries on the condition that they “do something extraordinary” with some of it.

birdsinthegarden · 16/07/2022 20:48

My brother, a niece, nephew, a cousin and two charities.

SilentHedges · 16/07/2022 21:22

I've split it between 3 friends, 3 nieces, my OH, and 4 charities.

I'm not married but my OH lives with me in the house I own. If I die first there is a trust where he can live in the house as long as he lives but never own it (I.e to stop any new partner having a stake in my estate). When he dies all the beneficiaries get their share.

Charities are a Romanian Dog Rescue, Wildlife Rescue, Small Pet Rescue, UK Dog Rescue. No obligatory cats home!

merryhouse · 16/07/2022 22:09

SweatyChamoisPad · 16/07/2022 20:18

Split between my late brother’s daughter, my friend’s three kids, and the hospices that cared for my mum and dad.

I was left £15k in my thirties by my dad’s cousin. It was so unexpected that I resolved to spend it on something to remember him by. So I spent part of it on an out-of-my-comfort-zone trip to India and Nepal, which opened my eyes to a whole new world of travel. My legacy is left to my beneficiaries on the condition that they “do something extraordinary” with some of it.

Who has to decide what counts as extraordinary?

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 16/07/2022 22:12

Mine is:


  • one third to niece no 1

  • one third to niece no 2

  • one third to three godchildren, to be divided equally.


And if any predecease me, to Medecins sans Frontiers

JoanOgden · 16/07/2022 22:14

Like others, my brother, niece, godchildren and friends' children, and charities

lurkingfromhome · 16/07/2022 22:34

No kids, no siblings and the nieces and nephews on DH's side will already be comfortably off. I'm assuming I'll need the bulk of it to pay for care of some sort, but in the event that DH dies before me, I've left half to charity and half to my best friend, who has never had much money. I like to think of her having a whale of a time in her 80s ...

Bloodybridget · 16/07/2022 22:39

My brother, my two nieces, and the three grandchildren I have courtesy of DP (all born since we've been together).

HollowTalk · 16/07/2022 22:40

My great aunt died 20 or 30 years ago. She didn't have any children and her husband had died. She had 30,000 in the bank and she left £1000 to 30 different people. I've seen her will and she obviously has a lot of fun with that. She has a lot of friends and distant family) - it was really nice to see that she'd remembered all of her old friends and neighbours.

MoreOfADogPerson · 16/07/2022 22:41

My godson will get my house, my niece and nephews and some charities will get my money

FlyAsFreeAsABird · 16/07/2022 22:43

I'm leaving ⅓ to DS, ⅓ to each sibling.

My siblings are lovely people and have always been extremely kind to me so I want to give them something. DS will still get £250k, I think that is enough tbh. I had zero inheritance and it didn't do me any harm.

Unless I need a care home of course. But it is still split ⅓ each.

FlyAsFreeAsABird · 16/07/2022 22:47

Sorry, I've re-read and seen that you're not close to your brother. I'd leave it to a local charity that was dear to me. There's a park near me maintained by a trust fund (land given to it three generations ago) I'd give some to that. I'd leave to the local branch of the Blue Cross if I could target that branch and the YMCA (again, only if I could target the local branch) who do so much for teenagers in need locally.

WhoAre · 16/07/2022 22:47

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

lumothesumo · 16/07/2022 22:48

Spend it all

Nipplestoyou · 16/07/2022 22:49

HollowTalk · 16/07/2022 22:40

My great aunt died 20 or 30 years ago. She didn't have any children and her husband had died. She had 30,000 in the bank and she left £1000 to 30 different people. I've seen her will and she obviously has a lot of fun with that. She has a lot of friends and distant family) - it was really nice to see that she'd remembered all of her old friends and neighbours.

Lovely idea but a huge amount of work for the executors.

SweatyChamoisPad · 16/07/2022 22:50

merryhouse · 16/07/2022 22:09

Who has to decide what counts as extraordinary?

Show quote history

They do! Because what’s extraordinary is different for everyone.