New will

[lovelilies]

Finally getting round to making a new will and curious about how to do things.

Currently my eldest DC (17) from a former relationship is the sole beneficiary (wrote the will when she was a baby.

Now I have another 2 DC (8 and 6) with my Ex P.

DC 1 has no contact with her father and is highly unlikely to inherit anything from them at side of the family ever.

DCs 2 and 3 have a wealthy father and grandparents and uncle.

I'm really unsure how to split my (very modest) estate as it seems unfair whichever way I divide things up and the last thing I'd want is to cause a rift after I've died

Forget about other inheritances and focus solely on what you have and how you want to bestow it. Personally I'd split it evenly as I wouldn't want my children to be left with the message that one deserves more than the others from me.

OP, I'm a will writer and in the circumstances you describe I'd suggest that you simply do an equal split.

This is because, even though your eldest will be financially independent several years earlier than her younger half siblings, (often people will in those circumstances give an elder child a little less for that reason), that's evened out by the fact that the younger two may inherit more from their father.

If your ex dies before you, however, and the younger two do receive a significant inheritance, you can always amend the will at that point to perhaps give a larger share to your elder child.

I think you should do an equal split.
Anything can happen and your younger 2 could get much less than expected or even nothing . What anyone else does/might leave them shouldn’t factor into your planning

I agree, even split.

That's really interesting, thank you!
I honestly thought people would say that DC1should inherit more because of the guaranteed inheritance/support from their DF and GPS for the other two.

I do see that that isn't anything to do with me though and absolutely would not want any of them to think I favoured one over the others.

Equal split between all. Never a reason to have anything else unless there is estrangement IMO.

You might expect your younger two to inherit from their father’s side, but please please don’t believe it is guaranteed. You only have to look at other posts in this section to realise what can, and does, go wrong

Never assume an inheritance from partner or family. Just make sure your own will is made correctly, legally, signed and witnessed and updated regularly. Ensure it is fair and equal to all your children and that they know where to find it. Remember that a marriage invalidates a will.