What’s usual for wills with stepkids?

[Jajajaj]

My and DH have 2 young children. He has 2 older teenagers from his previous marriage. We need to make wills but I’m on sure what’s the norm? Mirror wills with it all equally split between the 4 kids when we both die? Or if my DH goes first, leaving a percentage to the kids then and the other percentage to me?

My grandfather remarried a much younger woman after my grandmother died. They had no children together (she was 50 when they married, he was 75). Then he died and left everything to her and his children will get nothing. All my granny’s jewellery, furniture, paintings etc will go to the new wife’s children. Plus two properties which he owned outright before his second marriage. I’d seek to avoid this scenario.

@Fridafever

My grandfather remarried a much younger woman after my grandmother died. They had no children together (she was 50 when they married, he was 75). Then he died and left everything to her and his children will get nothing. All my granny’s jewellery, furniture, paintings etc will go to the new wife’s children. Plus two properties which he owned outright before his second marriage. I’d seek to avoid this scenario.

That's awful.

@HollowTalk I guess that would fall into the "shit happens" category! Like I said, we're not talking huge sums of money (especially after tax and split so many ways).

I don't especially like my step father, but my mum really did love and trust him, and I completely respect her decision to do what she wanted with her own money. If my step father literally spent the whole lot on just living his remaining life, I honestly wouldn't begrudge him that. It's his money, not mine.

thanks everyone. My worry was that if DH went first then stepkids would resent not getting their inheritance and just be waiting for me to die.

After reading everyone’s comments, my and DH have decided that we will have mutual wills. Mutual wills are trike mirror wills except and you if you write another later in life, the mutual will can be brought before a judge and ruled as the current will. Mutual wills are deemed as unchangeable.

As others have said, we’ve decided we will share estate when we both pass as: joint kids 37.5% each, DH kids 12.5% each. This is worked out as me and DH having 50% each and each of our shares is divided between our kids. Our joint kids get 25% from me and 12.5% from DHs share, his kids get 12.5% based on the fact they will inherit from their mum too.

* I’ve always thought the fairest way is that you divide everything in half, your half is split between your 2 and his half is split between his 4. Yes that means yours will get more but his other 2 may well inherit from their other parent*

^Do this OP. You need to protect your kids

@drpet49

* I’ve always thought the fairest way is that you divide everything in half, your half is split between your 2 and his half is split between his 4. Yes that means yours will get more but his other 2 may well inherit from their other parent*

^Do this OP. You need to protect your kids

Yes see my update. That’s what we have decided is most fair.

@Jajajaj
What happens if you die first and your DH remarries

[quote 70kid]@Jajajaj
What happens if you die first and your DH remarries[/quote]
That’s why we’re making mutual wills. See
my post above.