How to split will?

[Southwest17]

I would really appreciate advice about how I should split my will, in the event anything happens to me.

I am late 30’s, widowed with young children (4 & 7) and a DSS (19). House worth around £500K and owned outright (mortgage paid off with DH life insurance) and approx £200K savings (life insurance payment).

DSS and I have a very good relationship, I have always treated him like my own in terms of equal splitting of things. Relationship between his mum and I is very amicable.

DH and ex-wife formally divorced approx 10 years ago, she kept house/contents and paid him 10% of house equity, DH agreed to also pay her 20% of pension lump sum upon retirement despite being advised by solicitor this was far too generous, he just wanted DSS to be looked after and ex-wife to be able to remain in house and afford this. Ex-wife will not get the 20% anymore as DH has died.

Will is currently prepared to split all assets 3 ways equally between all 3 children. However, given that the youngest two are so young and DSS is now an adult and working, plus has his mum to inherit from (DSS only child/mum has no partner), I’m wondering whether I need to make more provision for the youngest 2 should anything happen to me while they’re under 18?

WWYD?

People who are asking for the DSS to get his fair share are forgetting that when your DSS was financially dependent your DH was working and paying child support for him. Your kids and you will have to get by without your DH's wages, which is presumably why he still had such high life insurance (hats off to him for making that provision). That money needs to last you through their childhood.

I think in your position I would write a will for now, while your children are still dependent, that gives them the lion's share of the inheritance (and details how that would be looked after for them etc). Then once they are grown up, you could look at a more equitable split with their big brother. Although to my mind, even at that point he would only be due about 1/6 of your estate (his dad's half, split into 3 with his siblings) - whether you wanted to allocate him something from your "half" would be up to you.