Well.. I would give 100 % to my bc and let husband split his will 50/50. I agree that the stepchild also has a mother who will give 100% to her. Why should your child get 50 % from both his parents and the step child get 100 % from the mothers side and 50% from you and 50% from husband. That totals 150%. Just my opinion.

I forgot to ask if you intended on having more children in the future? If so, then your husbands half would be split 3 ways and your 2 ways.

In our case my life insurance is set 100% husband; contingent 100% daughter; none for stepson. My husband has 3 diff life ins. 2 of life ins. is 100% to me; contingent 50% to daughter & son equally; other life ins is split w/his parents, me and son, none for daughter (he figures whatever money I get I'll take care of our daughter). I guess w/our situation is based on trust, beneficiary is mainly to me w/him trusting me to take care of the children when he passes. I guess if your partner dies early and if children are beneficiary...child will not be able to have access to the money until they are 18 yrs of age. So to us, in case my husband dies or I die early, one of us will get the money and figure out the distribuiton from there and is most helpful if we need the money to pay off any debts. So I guess it depends on your plan.

-happy mom

I agree with Sky22 and give your 50% to your bc, and dh can split his 50% amoungst all of his children. Your sd will have monetary support from her biomom, and her finances are not your responsibility.

I feel that you would be cheating your childrens' income/future needs by giving some of your portion to your sd. She has a mother to respond to her financial needs along with her father, she does not need you to financially support her.

I personally haven't set up wills for myself, which I really need to do, but I will not leave any portion of my life insurance to my ss whatsoever. All my insurance money will go to my dh and my bc.

I am wondering what I should do since I don't have any biochildren. My parents are concerned too. They don't want biomom getting any of their money either. Like if something happened to them and then something happened to me and my husband. My parents were thinking about putting in their will that stepson would get X amount.
I guess I could divide my money up and give most of it to my niece and nephew.
I know we would have to set up a trust for stepson though. Then any money that he would get would go into the trust.

Dawn

Wow, that's a good question. We have life ins....I am 100% his beneficiary, with my daughter getting it if something happened to both of us. And, on my ins. DH and my daughter are 50% each.
Reason being: It cost me 100,000.00 to renovate "my" home to accomodate his children...(this would have been my daughter's inheritance) so I thought it only fair she get compensated that money back if he dies prematurely. His kids are not even considered in our ins. policies because he isn't paying a dime towards even having them. But between us ladies, my plan (if he goes first and soon) is to pay off all the debt he incurred, pay for his funeral and then give his kids college money if there's any left over.

As far as my will...everything's going to my kid but I will leave certain things to my stepkids just because. I hope they realize that everything here I paid for. They probably don't but that's not my problem.

I also have a prenup which I hope to revise when we are married ten years if everything goes smoothly within our marriage. Again, right now, he gets nothing in any case scenario because he brought nothing but bills to the table.

Let's hope being poor was worth the price for love.

I found this website by surfing the net for an answer to this same question. I have a son from a previous marriage and my husband has four sons from a previous marriage...we will never have any more children. We need to prepare wills also and I agree with most of you folks. It is not far that my son should get 20% and my husband's children get 80% of the estate. I want to give 50% of the estate to his sons and 50% of the estate to my son (with a portion in estate for my grandchildren). My husband feels that this is not being fair, where on the other hand I feel that dividing it equally is being unfair to my son. As stated by Tyra, my husband's sons will be inheriting a hefty amount of money from their mother's side of the family. The one nagging question in the back of my mind is if I pass first everything goes to my husband, and vice versa. How does one ensure that those wishes are honored? Guess that is a question for an attorney.

You can cut the $ any way you want too,we decided that since our first priority is the children and I don't want SD to not be able to afford college(lord forbid something happen ) or to feel short ended, or worse yet have it cause any resentment between the kids we have it set up that if SD goes w/BM or anyone her (gotta change to a third now) will be in trust w/ my brother and DHs brother needing to approve any withdrawl from the trust-in agreement. BM has no legal claim to anything but SS from government, and may fight it but will not get far the att. assures us and we have had a second opinion on the current will. It puts us at ease to know that BM will not be able to blow the money as she has no budgetting skills and would run through it like mad(she has any time she recieves money- and nothing to show for a dime of it) SD will get a monthly allotment from trust to help with clothing, special circumstances, medical bills(with reciept and paperwork)- this also allows us to know that SD will not be held from seeing atleast part of our families also.

There is no reaon where logic does not exist

Our situation is just a little different,
My husband's father was an only child and inherited the family farm,he has never lived there, prefering to live in town.All these years he has rented out the old farm house where he was born,and where my husband spent every summer(all summer)with his grandparents,he loves the place so much.My father in law would not deed any of the land to hubby while his was married to BM.When we got married he waited a few years and then gift-deeded close to 10 acres so that we could build a home.He explained that he would not release the remaining land until he was VERY sure BM was well and trully out of the picture,due to her lack of control(on just abt everything)The land had been in the family for over 150 years.So we went and had a will made that stipulates my ss and our BS would inherit the farm and SD would get a monetary value of $25.000 (from dads life insurance) seeing as how much BM still controls SD and will surely spend every dime of it, as she has in the past spent all of SD money she had gotten from years of hard work with her Fair animals.And I have ALWAYS maintained that if anything should ever happen (death, divorce, I would NEVER take hubby's birthright) that I would not want to live on the farm by myself, I would prefer a small house in town.It is also stipulated that I am allowed to reside there for as long as I so choose. NO ONE can kick me out! So I have made sure that our son's birthright is protected. I heard through the grapevine that SD was PO'd when she found out! To bad, she and BM brought it on,by expecting that the world owes them the right to use and abuse!Wouldn't it be funny if, in our old age BM ends up living next to me if SS lets her live there? I might just have to invest in a shotgun! He He

hangingin

In our case just about everything was mine before we got married. After DH and I had our own child I didn't think that it was fair that we split everything 50/50 between the kids. I don't want my things going to SD or BM for that matter. If something happens to DH 100% goes to me. If something happens to me first 50% to DH and 50% to our son. SD is not metioned in my will at all. Then if DH dies everything will be split evenly between the children. That way our son will end up with 3/4 and SD 1/4. She will get all of BM's assets so why should I be able to protect mine?

and we almost did NOT get married because of it. He wanted to provide for his and not mine. We own a business together, I was the one who did all the legwork to get the business opened while he worked another job. I pulled MY money that I got out of my divorce, first marriage, first house and retirement in order for us to be where we are today. I was the one ready to call it quits based on his feelings that "my children have a dad"... yea whatever.

So, today it stands like this.... I am now the primary beneficiary on the life insurance policy he took out. We have two trusts, one for his kids, one for mine. He and I are to be taken care of first, anything left over split 4 ways... if something happens to BOTH of us anything left over split 4 ways. I'm not completely in agreement with this because his son has NOT been a part of our family for 3 years. However, I know that if things continue after SS has reached "adult" status DH is ready to cut him out. At this time he (DH) holds BM responsible for PAS, at this point I'm not sure I buy it anymore. My main intent was to make sure MY kids were also taken care of because when we met we were pretty well equal as far as what we had. Where we are today... well, we got there together.

I was called greedy and selfish at first, but once he actually shut up long enough to listen he knew I was right. We came into this equal and we have done everything together... the time to blame BM for his kids actions will have to end at some point and he will have to face some truths. The bottom line is his kids have NO loyalty to HIM and all for BM... when he figures THAT out things may change yet again. MY kids while loyal to their dad are also loyal to me... these things will come out eventually IMO. But I will live with 4 way split for now and we will see what happens.

It is what it is...

I owned my home before I met DH and made it clear that my home will not be left to DH or SS, it will be left with my kids. It stipulates that DH and SS will always be able to reside here until Dh's death, after that my 2 boys will do with the property what they please. If Dh was to go first SS would still be able to reside here with me but would only be given any personal effects of his fathers that he wishes.

SS's grandparents on BM's side are very well off and my kids only have me, SS is the only beneficiary on his mothers side and will not be a poor teenager.

I am in the same situation with my father but he has been bullied to the other way of seeing things. He has been with his new lady friend for 2 years. He had home and money prior meeting her, she was on welfare. no home no money. He has now told me that myself and my brother (my dads only 2 children) will split his estate 7 ways...5 to her kids and 2 to me and my brother. Does that sound fair!!

Catch xx
*Mean People Suck*

Don't make your BKs deal with greedy SKs. Have their take take out a life insurance policy that makes them the beneficiaries and then your entire estate is split among BKs, stating "that the children from the previous have been taken care of in the way of a a life insurance policy in the amount of...blah, blah, blah". As far as those of you who have your own sets of kids...absolutely 50/50 (with each sets of kids splitting half). It shouldn't be your problem that he and his ex decided to have more kids!

That should read, "have their DAD take out a life insurance..." Sorry, got excited;)

I don't live in the U.S. so I can't help you with legalities but I really hate that...out right asking for what you have and you are still alive and she makes it worse by being a very part time visitor.

My mum is always saying oh that will be yours an that will be your brothers and I don't want to spend too much so you and your brother will get X. I always say mum...spend it all, have a blast now!! It will make me happier to see you enjoy your life than watch you squander what you have to give us some...My brother has other ideas..Grrr.

She's had a stroke, she see's him once or twice a year, I call her and see her every single day of my life for 4 years now to make sure all is Ok. People who think of what will be theirs when someone is still living are selfish and no better than vultures

Catch xx
*Mean People Suck*

my grandmother (who is going to be 100 in Jan)was worried that the assisted living place where she lives will take all of her money before she dies, and I told her the same thing. My Uncles are very well off, one retired from Nasa, going stright from College to work there and the other one is a Professor and Christian Councelor. And they could care less about money. I told her they that very thing, do NOT worry about them, however she is worried about my Dad,who I will say had the exact same advantages as his brothers but but sqaundered them to party. He now lives alone in his childhood home by himself, with nothing to show for his years of "partying" except 5 children, of which 2 DO NOT AKNOWLEDGE HIS EXISTANCE. To his credit, he also does not care if my grandmother leaves him anything.As he told me once, I messed up my life, so I wil have to live with it. He did let me know a few years ago that he took out a life insurance policy for me to use the money for his burial expenses. He also said... better late than never.My 2 sisters may hold a grudge, but I don't, I already lost our Mother, I don't want to lose him without him knowing I love him very much, and it has taken years for him to even utter the words, BUT, he has told me he loves me too, and I think THAT is a big acomplishment for him.Just recently 1 of the 2 sisters told me she was ready to go visit him and talk, I told her I will be right there by her side! I will forgive, but DON'T ever forget! It makes US better people.
Also, my father's life choices does show that a parent can DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, and how your children turn out is really up to THEM....
Sorry, I slipped off the path there for a while, I just wanted let EVERY PARENT out there KNOW; do the best child rearing that you know how to and DO NOT BEAT YOURSELF UP!
hangingin

No, my father was not a abusive, horrible man, he was just selfish and sometimes forgot he had children to raise. The resentment of the sisters comes from one sister being the oldest, and witnessing how horrible he treated our mother, and the youngest, was resentful because she was only 3 when our parents split up and he "forgot" he had her, in her words.
hangingin

I did some research this weekend about the legalities of this situation. FH and I co-own the house. It is home to FH, my daughter, and I. The three teenaged skids don't live here and rarely visit. Since they have made it clear that they have no interest or intention of being part of our family, and have no interest in getting along with me or with my daughter, I am leaving them NOTHING.

Because we are living common-law right now, if something happened to FH they would be entitled to all of his assets, including half of my home. This is something we'll be remedying ASAP. His life insurance policy is enough to cover continued child support until they are 21, plus some left over to help me. They already have money in trust towards their post-secondary education. He will be increasing the amount to provide for my daughter and help me to pay off more of the mortgage to enable my daughter and I to stay in our home.

We will be drawing up wills that state if he dies first, everything goes to me (aside from the life insurance child support). When I die, 50% will go to his three kids, and 50% will go to my daughter. If I die first, everything will go to him until he dies and the same split occurs. I would hope that he and my daughter would stay in the home and he would continue to parent her (though I doubt that would happen, given their poor relationship).

The way I see it, his kids are not part of my family, do not want to be part of my family, and I have no obligation to them whatsoever. If things improve with their behaviour and attitudes I may change my mind at some point, but it's highly unlikely.

what he has to his kids, that would come about to nothing.

I get his retirement.

My kids get all my stuff. His kids get his stuff. I don't care if I have lots more stuff to leave my children. I won't apologize for it nor do I want to share it. PERIOD

Our kids are older. They all should work for what they have in life and not depend on anyone's money anyway.

As far as Life Insurance goes, we have gone 100% to my Dh or 100% to me if one of us dies. If we both died in an accident, then the four kids (my two BK's and his two BK's) will share the lot equally.

My DH and I have worked hard over the last 5 years to build a property portfolio that is worth a bit now, but we also owe a lot too, so the partner left would need every cent to get it all sorted out.

In the Wills, it is also first going to each partner, then if we both go at same time, to the kids equally. I am trusting enough of my DH (because he is a very ethical man) that he would do the right thing by my kids if I wasn't here anymore.

Hopefully, we will grow old and grey together and live out our lives, enjoy our time and the fruits of our hard work. The kids can wait for their share.

A Step parent is in a no win role

Hi- I found myself on this website when researching wills and how to write one when there are stepchildren AND biological children involved. My husband and I have a 1 year-old daughter, and I believe we should write a will in case anything were to happen to us. The problem is that he has 2 adopted sons from a previous marriage, who live primarily with their mother and stepfather. The boys have TWO sets of parents, FIVE sets of grandparents (their mother's biological mom/dad; mother's adoptive mom/dad; stepdad's parents; father's parents; and MY parents!), and I know that they will appear in all the wills (except, probably, my parents' since they don't know the boys well and have their own grandchildren). My daughter, on the other hand, has 1 set of parents (which, I realize, is preferable!) and two sets of grandparents. I am constantly consumed with the idea of her getting less than her half-brothers. They go to private school that my husband and I help to finance, go on vacations with both families, and basically get whatever they want (their mother gives them anything they want and rarely says "no," which is beginning to backfire since we do say NO-- AND have less money to spend on them!)... I am getting off-topic, but as you can tell, I have a lot to vent about and not many people who understand (!) ... In any case, my question is HOW we designate money to our children in our will. If it were up to me, I would have most of it go to our daughter for a number of reasons: 1.) If she were to lose my husband and me, her only parents would be gone. (Her half-brothers, however, would still have a mom and stepdad, so it wouldn't impact them as significantly.) 2.) She is much younger than they are, so if something did happen to us in the next 17 years, she would still be a minor. Chances are, they would be closer to 18, if not legal adults. 3.) Her half-brothers will be left money from many other sources; our daughter will probably only receive an inheritance from us, my parents, and possibly my husband's parents (but then again, maybe not; they have 11 grandchildren AND not a lot of money to leave.) I guess what I'm looking for is how to broach the topic of a will and splitting our assets without getting in an argument with my husband. I have to be careful because I care more for our daughter than my stepsons (that may sound terrible, but she's my own baby; I have only known them for 5 years and while I love them, the feelings can't begin to match the love I have for my daughter) AND I want to protect her always and make sure that she doesn't get jipped. My mom suggested NOT writing a will, saying that it might work to our advantage if there isn't anything set in stone-- that our daughter would naturally get more if it were left up to the State to decide, but I have no idea if that's true. Can someone please weigh in? Unlike others in this forum, my husband and I have combined money, so there's not the option of him splitting up HIS money and me leaving just MINE to our daughter. Thanks for any input anyone has!

Our will gives 100% to the surviving spouse should one of us predecease the other. In the event of our joint demise 100% goes in to trust for our Son (my SS) who is an only child in our household. The estate will support SS as a minor and will pay for college if he maintains a B average. The trust will distribute to him upon graduation from an accredited college/university with a Bachelor's degree or age 40 which ever comes first.

While in trust NOTHING can benefit the SpermClan. If they end up with custody of SS they get nothing and will have to raise him to age 18 on their own dime. When the trust disperses to SS then he can spend it as he wishes. Hopefully by then he will have enough maturity and judgement to preserve it for his own future and benefit and still not give a dime to the toothless SpermClan.

This is our way of parenting from beyond the grave and protecting our estate from the SpermClan deriving any benefit from our hard work.

Vindictive?????? Absolutely. But, I am just an little bit evil that way. }:)

My parents have included our Son (my SS) in their wills. Their estate splits between my younger brother and I. Their attorney recommended that they specifically name my SS in their wills as a blocking tactic to keep the SpermClan from attempting to contest the will should the opportunity arrise. Other than my Wife my SS is my only heir and beneficiary and will likely get the entire estate of my Wife and I and half of my parents estate if I outlive my parents.

Best regards,

Best regarrds

Success is rarely final. Failure is rarely fatal. It is character, courage and consistency of effort that count. Vince Lombardi (with some minor Rags modifications) To each according to their performance, screw Karl Marx. (Rags)

If you have bios leave it to them id rather throw my valuables in the ocean then let my sorry skids hock my stuff. Plus they will get thir mom and dads stuff, best case they leave it to their kids which is not.your namesake so dont leave them anything.

My husband and I have been married 22 years, and he has a grown son and 4 grandchildren (3 natural and 1 stepgrandchild). He and his son are estranged - son is a functional alcoholic and his emotional state seems to have been totally arrested at about 16-17 years of age. They live out of state from us and husband refuses to go back to stay in son's house moving forward after a disastrous visit this past spring.

Husband decides he needs to "protect" me from his son and sets out to get a Living Will/Trust established. He never includes me in the lawyer's visits until the review of the final draft, where I am told it is a Qtip trust, which basically leaves most assets to me until my death (then they revert back to his Trust), a $10K stipend (slap in the face) to his son as an outright gift, and then his substantial (1 million+) that is in his retirement plan from his former employer (large oil company)to the 4 grandchildren...stipulations are that money is to be used for education and upon age of 30 money is theirs).

What he DOESN'T consider is ME...I once had a promising lucrative career which was given up to become a trailing spouse to HIS job, and that 6 years of that retirement savings plan he wants to give to his grandchildren was made during OUR marriage. His thought is that the retirement savings plan is a "clean" way to give his grandchildren money, and that the remainder of the estate should be plenty for me. It's not that I don't agree if he lives to old age (he is 60 and I am 54), but I do have a concern if he should die suddenly or in the near future. He also didn't realize that I would have to sign a spousal beneficiary waiver on the retirement savings plan, and I refused to sign it until I received legal advice. Shame on him for getting shoddy legal advice...

I had a consultation with an attorney who not only does estate planning, but is also into family law, and her advice was that it was not in my best interest to sign, but in the interest of being fair, it would be wise to have accounting done to ascertain what amount would be representative of 6 years that would legally be mine.

I don't want to appear greedy, but I also know I need to look out for myself. If I don't sign, he will HAVE to trust me to do the right thing if he should pass before me. We are at war and I want it to stop, but I don't want to just cave in without getting him to understand my perspective. Also, I am concerned that he formed his own trust versus us going in together to set up a joint trust.

Any thoughts or advice? It could potentially be fatal to my marriage.