Wills and leaving to grandchildren

We have done what Doodledog has done. But i have two children with roughly grandchildren all the same age. But some families are more comp;licated. Ive just split mine between the children and then can distribute what they wish to their children.

I would leave it as it is, you can give the little ones money, and money to the twins while you are still alive. you dont haveto tell anyone that and will stop any hard feelings later.

I'm another who thinks that it should be divided between your children, and then it's up to them whether they pass any of their share to their own families.

You don't know whether there will be more grandchildren in the future, and it would be unfair to leave any unborn ones out of the will.

I would keep the split equal, unless you helped the older ones out when they were starting out - otherwise, you would be helping the youngest one disproportionately. I don't think that it is fair to look at the relative prosperity of individuals when deciding how to split a will. Unless your children all had very different starts in life, they have made their own way, and it doesn't seem fair to 'penalise' those who have worked hard. It would be different if family circumstances had changed when they were growing up and they started adult life in different ways; but if that's not the case, I would share it equally.

We made our wills recently, and went through all the thinking about grandchildren, and all the 'what if's that go along with that, and we decided to split whatever we leave behind between our children and let them decide what to do as regards passing it down to children of their own. We have explained this to them, and suggested that they might like to wait until they are sure that they have completed their families before doing so, but that in the end it will be up to them.

My mother left a percentage to be divided between however many grandchildren there were when she died. The rest was left to me and my sister. That worked well for everyone. My sister’s children are younger than mine, still at university. But both my children used it to put towards a deposit for a house. I’m so thankful to my mother for doing that.

You don't mention if the older 2 have partners, but if they don't, they are entirely dependent on their own finances for the rest of their lives, and may welcome some additional help. Divide the inheritance 3 ways to be fair, and leave the youngest one to decide how the grandchildren benefit.

I would discuss this proposal with the other two children and maybe divide the inheritance so that the grandchildren get a small share, if you dont get agreement it might lead to rows and rifts later on

My mum passed away in July my parents had a "Mirror" will. Dad died 6 years ago. They divided there whole estate between my sister and I with the caveat that we then divided between our children. If they were under 21 to put into a Trust. My sister and I have given them personal gifts which she identified years before.
This really is the fairest option, small children will benefit in the long term.
And if the other siblings are childless, these children will be fine!
OK... Anyone what to buy a flat...?

I think the OP is talking of her children not her grandchildren, asking if she should leave her youngest child more because he has young children.

I would leave the three children the equal amounts as she has done at present!
Surprising how OP posts get lost along the way!

I would leave things as they are.

Have you thought of discussing the mater with your offspring? See how they would feel if you left more to the 3rd? If that is not possible then definitely divide equally.

My estate is to be divided equally between my 3 children. I have 6 grandchildren but I haven’t left anything for them. Will probably do a codicil, leaving bits of my jewellery for them. There’s a 13 year age gap between my oldest two GC and the youngest 4. I was very involved with the older GC, school runs etc. So, am doing a little extra for them; helping them towards their University education. I think that’s only fair.

You say you're not keen on trusts but it's a good way to protect money you want to leave to grandchildren. I would keep your will as it is - as others have said, why should the older two AC fund the youngest's family - but allow an amount for your grandchildren. You can offer financial support now if they need it when the twins arrive.

My mum has left everything to my 3 children, (I am an only child). I am very secure financially so suggested mum do this. Recently one of my children needed substantial financial help which mum provided. The other children were told about this. It was agreed that the sum of money will be deducted from the inheritance of that child.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I have just updated my will and have left everything to be split three ways equally between my two daughters and all the grandchildren.
I’m a little worried about leaving my eldest daughter her share as I know she will squander it but I wouldn’t dream of leaving her less

We have split our will equally among the AC’s. Some are financially better off than others now, but who knows what the future may bring? Also,we haven’t taken into account any GC.
Again, we have no way of knowing if there will be more GC’s.
We don’t want to be forever changing the will to accommodate that.
GC will get theirs, when the time comes, from their own parents.

I suspect my mother in laws will is going to upset her son - my ex husband! She was very unhappy about his behaviour leading to our divorce and, with the knowledge and agreement of her daughter, has left everything to her grandchildren, leaving both her children nothing.

I have 2 children and 6 grandchildren. I've set the same amount aside for each grandchild and everything else will be split between the two children. This way I think everyone has had a fair share.

Altering your will is definitely a recipe for disaster! Money causes so many problems keep everything equal.
We give our grandchildren £1000 every birthday, one AC has no children but is aware and accepting that we do this however we wouldn’t dream of leaving this AC more money in our will!
Obviously the decision is yours alone but you will be creating a future wedge between your children.

I don't know your financial position Thoro but some years before her death my mother had set aside money in trust for her grandchildren, to be split equally between them at some time in the future. When she died her estate was split equally between her children. I believe that such a trust is considered to be outside your estate when you die, provided it has been legally set up more than seven years before your death (though I am not a lawyer).
If you can afford to do this the trust can be accessed for education, to help buy a property or for some other good reason approved by the trustees.
Even if one of your children has more offspring than the other this might avoid resentment - though only you know your family well enough to know if this is the case.

Yes leave an amount separately, to be divided between the GC.that way could it not just be 'added' to will? (Officially of course?)

Our will is divided equally between our two daughters. We have five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, which we spend money on now, so that we can enjoy helping them. Our daughters have wills, leaving their estates to their children, so the children will benefit in the end. The best thing is fairness in these matters.

If you hold them all with the same regard then No. Just because one has young children at the moments surely doesn't give you cause to treat him more special. Take it the others haven't had children.

I don't begin to know how to safety proof anything I leave. My grandparents thought they had done that, with the money going to their children (my dad and uncle) and the proceeds of the house divided equally among grandchildren (my brother and I and 2 cousins).

But my uncle managed to work it so he and his children got everything.

I would like to leave some dedicated money to my grandson. I really must look into it. I keep putting it off because I am busy, but it is important, particularly with Covid.

I can't help thinking that your older children would be left thinking that you loved their younger sibling more which could cause bad feeling between them all.

As others have said...can't you help your youngest whilst you're alive but share your estate equally.