Who to leave money to if my immediate family all get obliterated at the same time?? (Sorry morbid post!)

[tricerotopsrule]

Sorry to be really morbid but I've just realised that if me, my DH and my children all somehow die together in an accident, given that I don't have a will, my money would all go to my brother and sister!

My parents are both deceased and I recently got some inheritance from my dad so I have a decent amount of money saved.

I don't talk to my sister (we are estranged as she is a total ) and last time I saw her was my dad's funeral nearly a year ago. If she got half of my money I would not be happy! I also have no relationship at all with her kids and barely know them.

My brother is OK but I have a very superficial relationship with him and he's also totally loaded so doesn't need any more money.

I also don't really want to leave it to my in laws as they are also loaded and don't need it.

In the absence of family who would you leave money to? I thought about specifying friends but would I still have the same friends when I'm 80 and how to do decide who gets what and how much??

The chances of me and my family getting obliterated is totally slim hopefully but every now and then I read a horror story of a family being wiped out in a car crash etc and it gets me thinking.

WWYD??

I just chose a charity

I just chose a charity too - I think that is normal

Write a will leaving it to a charity

And honestly. You would be dead and wouldn't need to be happy or sad about it

You really need a will.

Charity obvs for if you got obliterated together

Your will is likely to be updated several times between now and your 80s. Name the friends/charity that would make sense now (in this very unlikely situation) and revise it later as needed.

What about your DH’s side?
If we are obliterated it all goes to my two nieces. DH’s side are not close and for various reasons he doesn’t want them having anything. Also most of our money is from inheritance from my side and sale of my business.
The only thing that annoys me is that we won’t be around to see their faces.

I would choose Women's Aid. Unfortunately it will still be needed even if you live to be 100.

I'd give it to support a cause I'm passionate about. Or a charity/mix of charities.

We've got our nieces and nephews listed, but in your case I'd choose a charity!

I’ve named my two friends who have least money.

You must write a will NOW so it is clear who will care for your DC if you and your DH go together. It’s not morbid, it’s essential. Wills are easily updated/redone as the years go by.

We said the Youth Hostels Association with a wish it be used to maintain their remote and simple places.

Charity/ies

Highly unlikely to occur though.

You will be dead so it would make no difference who it was left too. You can’t be happy or sad about it

The deceased/testator won't know but the beneficiaries will, and even a small sum could make a difference to someone's life or to the work of a worthwhile charity. That's a good legacy to know you're leaving.

We covered this in our will. It's not morbid, it's sensible. My feeling was that if my husband and I and both our children were all wiped out in some way, and there were no grandchildren, I would want some of the proceeds of our house sale to go to my next nearest relatives, but most of it would go to some listed good causes which we still expect to be in existence some decades in the future (if we last that long). Our university would get some. Really must dig the will out and have a look, as I can't remember what I decided a good few years ago now!

We've said it should be split between our nieces and nephews if we're all wiped out. If I didn't have them then i think i would choose a good friend who would make good use of it. If there's no one that fits that bill then choose a charity.

We did this, the solicitor termed it a ‘catastrophic will’. We made it before a long haul holiday.
it was quite fun actually.. like a spending a lottery win!
Siblings
Specific bequests to friends
Charities
Fun money for our friends to have a massive party/go on holiday.
Divvied up jewellery, handbags,👜 other personal possessions of value.
Hope we never have to use it though!

I have no family. Just finalised my will. It’s left to a friend, then if she is gone, her daughter, after that it all goes to one specific charity as an end stop. Solicitor sends a reminder to review details every decade.

I have no siblings and no children of my own. My husband's adult children and grandchild went NC after he died. I've given them what they're due out of his estate but they'll get nothing from me.

I'm leaving everything to my nephews through marriage and my cousins' children. I've made a point of naming the children because I've heard nothing from two of my cousins for many years and their children are getting nothing.

From family experience we would never put a charity as the catastrophe clause.

They are totally without scruples when it comes down to pursuing money.

I won't put details as they are outing but suffice to say the charity which was named was quite happy to pursue the catastrophe clause even though the named beneficiaries were still alive.

I'd leave a legacy through a university or similar to provide bursaries for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

If that happens to us, it all goes to Cats Protection.

In what possible way could a charity "pursue" their claim to an estate, if the named beneficiaries were still alive. I assume that the will clearly said that the charity would only inherit if the named beneficiaries were deceased. If so, on what possible basis would they have to claim?!?

The only way this might occur would be if the will was poorly written. I've just read my nan's which I think she wrote herself with help from relatives and it's very unclear on a few points so this is a possibility.

Here is some info about leaving money to a charity in your will.

www.rememberacharity.org.uk

I don't know what's gone on with your brother and sister but it's so sad when sibling and cousin relationships break down. Is there anyway at all you can look at fixing this?
Regarding friends, I don't understand if it matters if they wouldn't be your friends at 80. If you love them now, surely that is enough? You can always change a will.