Question of the Day- Leaving A Family Member Out Of An Inheritance
By DB
@dgobucks226 (34356)
March 17, 2019 1:44pm CST
Would you ever cut a family member out of your will? If so, why? If not why not?
From time to time you hear of celebrities, millionaires, or TV personalites who excluded relations from their inheritance. Not too long ago (I think it was 2018) the popular patriarch of the TV show "Pawn Stars," The Old Man Richard Harrison left his youngest son Christopher out of his will. It made me wonder just what he could of done to cause his father to change the will and leave him out?
I am sure there are other examples of celebrities who have done the same over the years. For me, it would take some despicable behavior to exclude a relation from my will. I don't have much of an inheritance, but if I did, I would certainly leave my wealth where it could help others. After all, you can't take it with you... What's your opinion?
Photo-lawhillandhill.com
18 people like this
16 responses
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Mar 19
I will split everything 50-50 to my two children. Unless one of them grows up to be a serial killer or something, then I would have to reconsider.
5 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
What? You mean a little thing like serial killing would influence you decision? 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118435)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Mar 19
@dgobucks226 Well, it might alter the percentage of splitting my assets from 50-50 to 51-49.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
18 Mar 19
The rules in Europe are strict, if you have children you cannot let them our of an inheritance, it is the same for your spouse. My husband and I have no children, so we have no "legal heirs", we can leave our money to no matter we want. Surely it will not be my brother and my niece.
4 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
19 Mar 19
@LadyDuck i remember you said when she and her boyfriend visited, she doesn't even help you in the kitchen. so disappointing.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458006)
• Switzerland
19 Mar 19
@hereandthere Yes, even my niece, because she showed to be only interested to get help when she needed. She does not even call us now that she has her job and her apartment.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
17 Mar 19
Yes, they would have to be pretty rotten. I will have very little to leave. If hubby survives me he gets it all, otherwise, evenly divided between the two kids.
4 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
My deceased parents left their inheritance equally to me and my sibs.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
18 Mar 19
no,but i reinstated someone.
i had to settle my uncle's estate cause my lazy step cousin refused.
long story short there were two wills,and i had the only copies.
because she was going to get the lions share when i did all the work,i handed in the will putting her brother back in(who had been disinheirited)-and she had to share it with him.that's what she gets for leaving me a mess.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
19 Mar 19
justice is served! you have the wisdom of solomon!
why did your uncle entrusted both wills to you, instead of his wife. siblings or children?
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
I agree with hereandthere. Your Uncle left the will to you for a good reason. He had the confidence in your making the fair decisions when executing that will.
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
21 Mar 19
@hereandthere his wife was dying at the same time of altzheimers.
both step kids were useless.
2 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Mar 19
I don´t have any inheritance either and I got left out of a Will on purpose.
I was not even told would they ever tell you anything like that?
Long story too boring to go on about for me.
I see lots of those cases here of famous people and their Wills and all that lots of problems as well tied up with it all.
3 people like this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
20 Mar 19
@dgobucks226
A fella over here this week thought he was going to die won´t say who he is and straight away when he thought all was lost he made a Testament to give it all to his best friend.
Luckily he will live and its such a nice thing for him to do not thinking of himself at all.
Like I said he will live and we are all cheering him on.
Viva.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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23 Mar 19
@lovinangelsinstead21 How selfless of him to think of someone else while going through such a thing. Glad he is doing ok 
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
One thing about money you can buy many things with it, but it can't buy true love or great health.
Yes, many cases of celebs fighting over inheritances. Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Prince and Robin Williams wills are examples of family fueds over inheritances. It gets worse with their was more than one spose involved.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
I see. My Uncle left his inheritance to no relatives. It went to his favorite bank and his live-in caretaker.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 Mar 19
@dgobucks226 There many family issues and that is sad.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Mar 19
Some children have received a great deal of help during the lifetime of the parent. Some are irresponsible and others are just worthless, every case is different.
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
I agree with you there! There can be instances where wills and the decisions that go into dividing wealth can be very complicated.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
17 Mar 19
There are various reasons some would do this and there are easy ways to be sure the will is not contested when it is done.
If you have items you want to get into certain hands, you have a right to do so through your will.
If someone really should receive nothing because of some issue, what often happens is a small amount is left to that one just so nothing is said.
It can get complicated! We also found when it comes to certain family items, such as things that may have been passed to you from a previous generation-
HE WHO GIVES WHILE HE LIVES KNOWS WHERE IT GOES.
So if you have someone you trust and would like to give an heirloom piece, do it now as long as they are old enough to appreciate the gift.
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
That is a terrific piece of advice. Our family's estate planner suggested this with our family but nothing was done. This was done to not cause family issues, but those issues will reoccur once a person passes if family items were not distributed. As you point out, there are many considerations when dealing with estates.
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Mar 19
Some people quit talking to family members just because of something said in anger or when apologies aren't forthcoming. My family isn't like that, but the reasoning behind the TV person leaving his son out of the will might be something as simple as that.
If we have anything left over it will go to our kids evenly unless either spouse outlives the other. Then they'd get it first.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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23 Mar 19
That is a good point. Some things said in anger may not be forgiven and cause bitter feelings which extend to exclusion from inheritance. Perhaps their relationship was strained due to that.
Thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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27 Mar 19
Yes it was quite surprising for him to do that. There was no reason given although in the note in the will the Old Man said he loved his son. I agree, It would be hard to not distribute your wealth evenly among your children.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Mar 19
I know of a famous televangelist who did that to their older son. Not only did they disinherit him, but he's also not even mentioned as their son. I think it's shameful. No matter what a child does, they are still your children. I couldn't do that to my children. I don't have anything to pass on yet.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306113)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Mar 19
@dgobucks226 I agree. It is sad. Too much wasted time. Remember Home Alone? I cried at the end when the old man held his granddaughter and his family reunited.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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27 Mar 19
@just4him I always tear up when I see an uplifting emotional reunion.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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24 Mar 19
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Most people would definitely agree with your viewpoint Valerie. Those exceptions carry a bitterness inside them so strong that in their view forgiveness is not possible. On a positive note I have read of situations where over time one's feelings change and a reconciliation happens. It's to bad that many years are wasted in the interim.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
17 Mar 19
Oh sure - I would leave someone out of my will, but it would have to take something fairly major.
I was sad when "the old man" passed. I liked him best on the show. Makes you wonder what kind of thing happened between him and Christopher - and if Christopher gets along with Rick and what's the boy's name.... and all
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
Yes, many unanswered questions about that family dynamic? The Old Man was a character wasn't he, lol.
1 person likes this
@janethwayne (5193)
• Philippines
17 Mar 19
If I have inheritance first I will make my children to inherit that and if it is more than enough for them I donate some of it especially to the poor.
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
What a very nice sentiment Janeth! Thanks for that thoughtful answer Family should be the most important thing..
Family should be the most important thing..
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
18 Mar 19
I can and do see reasons to exclude a family member from inheritance. That said, great topic I've been reading the responses so far I am in the minority!
3 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
Thanks! The topic definitely is one that's sparks debate. You would think completing a will should be an easy process, but sometimes, deciding who to leave your money to can be quite a difficult process.
@GreatMartin (23677)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
19 Mar 19
"I would certainly leave my wealth where it could help others." Does that mean not a son/daughter if they are okay and leaving it to a homeless couple you know?
My father, who was wealthy, didn't leave me anything and left his money to his second wife---my aunt who saw me as a son left everything to her husband--and they were both right to do that.
I have personally asked those I care for what they would want of mine and I gave it to them---that's their inheritance! I have no money and only 2 items of worth which I have designated to be given to 2 people who were there for me when I needed help. Everything else I am leaving to my neighbors--first come, first serve---because they have nothing.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34356)
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20 Mar 19
What a very interesting and precise response. I can see you have given this some thought. You really cherish your friendships and sometimes that bond is stronger than the ones you have with your relations. It appears from your answer, that is the case.
