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Original poster

If you’re child free, who are you planning to leave everything to?

154 replies

TeapotCollection · 17/02/2023 14:04

We’re early 50s and think we should write our Wills. We’ve got family but, to put it bluntly, no one who we want to have everything we’re working hard for. There probably won’t be a lot of cash because we’re going to spend it 😃 but very likely to be a property worth at least 200k (todays prices). We did think about selling our property to one those equity release companies but I was strongly advised against this on here

If we divide it between charities will the cost of processing the Will be horrendous?

Another thing is that we know certain family members will be expecting us to split everything between our nieces and nephews. Tough shit?

Going away for a couple of nights in a few hours so apologies in advance for being quiet over the weekend

OP posts:
Phrenologistsfinger · 17/02/2023 17:24

Grassroots conservation and animal charities for me!

No siblings, no cousins with kids (no-one in my family has had kids), friends all comfortable and closest ones don’t have kids either.

Can’t speak for DP but whilst he does have some nephews and nieces but doesn't really know them (overseas).

Animals and nature get it all!

Roominmyhouse · 17/02/2023 17:24

We are only early 40’s and have no DC. Should really think about a will at some point. We’ve talked about leaving ours to nieces and nephews on DH side as my sister doesn’t have kids either. But I imagine we’ll spend a lot of it in retirement and on care if we do make it to a ripe old age!

PandasAreUseless · 17/02/2023 17:31

We're 38 and 40 and our Wills currently just state that we will leave everything to eachother if one of us dies.
As we get older we will update them.
The plan is to downsize and live off of the released equity through our retirement years, so hopefully there won't be much left when we're both gone.
I'd like to leave anything remaining with a small animal charity and to a tree-planting scheme.

Spanielsarepainless · 17/02/2023 17:37

DH in the first instance, but if I am the one left my sister and DH's granddaughter, plus a big lump to a couple of small charities. If there is any left after paying for my care!

IntentionalError · 17/02/2023 17:48

We are in our 50s, financially comfortable and very happily childfree by choice. We fully intend to retire early and spend as much as possible in our lifetimes, including downsizing to a very modest retirement property when the time is right. What’s left, and it won’t be a fortune, will be split between siblings & charities.

Woolandwonder · 17/02/2023 18:43

Interesting question. I've not really thought about it yet because me and DP currently don't really have anything to leave!

I think probably to my 2 siblings if I died before them (although one sibling has significant learning disabilities so that would be into their trust) DP has a niece and although they aren't close we'd probably still include her. I have a friend who is like a sister to me and consider her children to be my niece and nephew so I'd leave to them. So maybe a split between those 5. We are hoping to buy a house this year so would probably sort wills at the same time.

Original poster
TeapotCollection · 17/02/2023 19:26

Thank you for your input everyone. Sad to read that big charities isn’t going to work, but I’ve had another idea. We’re both huge football fans, might think about including some local grass roots football teams

Going away now for a couple of days, I’ll check back on Monday

OP posts:
PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 17/02/2023 19:28

I'm determined to spend every last penny on myself.

If it all goes horribly wrong it will go to various animal charities.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 17/02/2023 19:36

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 14:29

That's a good idea.

Show quote history

That's my plan if needed.

77toozy · 17/02/2023 19:47

I'd love to have an inheritance. Sadly I have no one to inherit from..

Pureradio · 17/02/2023 19:47

Leave to nephews

Liorae · 17/02/2023 20:38

ah well if you don't know your nieces and nephews, I think it's fair enough and surely they won't be "expecting" anything anyway!?
😂God bless your innocence!

XenoBitch · 17/02/2023 20:48

I wont have anything to leave, but if I do, it will go to the rescue my dog is from.

mydogisthebest · 17/02/2023 21:02

Me and DH are leaving some to a friend to look after our dogs and the rest split between 7 smallish animal charities.

I have 2 siblings but they are much better off than us and do not need any money. They both have 2 children but they are all likely to receive pretty large inheritances, not just from their parents, but also from other aunts and uncles who are childfree. Also 2 of them earn huge amounts of money

LlynTegid · 17/02/2023 21:54

Some to named charities, rest divided between siblings.

PandasAreUseless · 17/02/2023 22:15

God knows how thos would work or if it's remotely possible, but I've previously wondered about creating a 'scholarship', so when I die, a kid from an underprivileged background gets their university fees paid....
Thoughts anyone?

Dacadactyl · 17/02/2023 22:38

PandasAreUseless · 17/02/2023 22:15

God knows how thos would work or if it's remotely possible, but I've previously wondered about creating a 'scholarship', so when I die, a kid from an underprivileged background gets their university fees paid....
Thoughts anyone?

I think it's a nice idea. You could approach a uni (perhaps the alumni office of your own uni if you went to one yourself) to see if this would be possible. If not there, then maybe a student services department could give you an idea if this would be feasible.

nocoolnamesleft · 17/02/2023 22:41

My godchildren feature heavily in my will.

Pssspsss · 17/02/2023 22:56

I could be wrong but later on you may want to sell the house and entrust any significant amounts to your charities/beneficiaries prior to any need to care homes.

should you become ill eg dementia and are deemed not to have capacity you don’t want the state to appoint a power of attorney who can sell your property to fund care and it could get eaten up. Normally this can be circumvented by appointing a close relative as POA (eg my mum was my grandparents) but if there is no one you feel that close to?

Hopefully if I’m misinformed someone will correct me

SheilaFentiman · 17/02/2023 23:00

Pssspsss · 17/02/2023 22:56

I could be wrong but later on you may want to sell the house and entrust any significant amounts to your charities/beneficiaries prior to any need to care homes.

should you become ill eg dementia and are deemed not to have capacity you don’t want the state to appoint a power of attorney who can sell your property to fund care and it could get eaten up. Normally this can be circumvented by appointing a close relative as POA (eg my mum was my grandparents) but if there is no one you feel that close to?

Hopefully if I’m misinformed someone will correct me

That might be viewed as deprivation of assets. It’s not allowed to gift your home away to avoid care home fees.

Quveas · 17/02/2023 23:18

During my life I (and my husband, now deceased) spent a great deal of time, effort and money giving our children a good upbringing, a great education and a brilliant start in life. They both know that if I get any warning of my impending departure from ths lif, I am blowing every penny If not, it's going, with my beloved service dog, to the Dogs Trust. Or, if they can take my lovely dog, the dog will go to them and the money to the DT. I do have other relatives. They don't give a shit about me, and the dog means more than they do. And the kids are happy with what they have had in a lifetime.

Do what is wright for you and stuff expectations

Pssspsss · 17/02/2023 23:19

SheilaFentiman · 17/02/2023 23:00

That might be viewed as deprivation of assets. It’s not allowed to gift your home away to avoid care home fees.

Show quote history

I think if you leave enough time it’s not questioned? Like I said Im not 100% sure of the ins and outs.

mumyes · 17/02/2023 23:23

God, do you really have no one you'd leave it to? Even if I had no relatives or kids, I could think of loads of struggling pals id want to help out.

mondaytosunday · 17/02/2023 23:43

My sister doesn't have kids. She told me she is leaving everything to my niece who has autism and health issues and will never be able to live independently. My niece will also benefit from my estate should my children predecease me. I imagine if my niece was neurotypical then she would have divided it between her and my children.

Quveas · 17/02/2023 23:56

mumyes · 17/02/2023 23:23

God, do you really have no one you'd leave it to? Even if I had no relatives or kids, I could think of loads of struggling pals id want to help out.

Can't speak for others, but no, "no struggling pals". But why is what someone else decides about their money such a concern to you? Why do we have to leave money to anyone?