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I am not rich.
[tj] oh yes you are[/tj] 😉
I am not rich. I just managed to get a slightly bigger house with a garden. I still have a large mortgage. My parents had nothing at all – my dad had to get an apprenticeship at 16 because he was the oldest male in the family when my granddad died so he could support the rest of his family. The modest sum I received was their effort at having a bit more than nothing.
Yes and my point was whether it's a "bit more than nothing" or the Duchy of Cornwall it's not a level playing field compared to those that actually do inherit nothing.
Yes and my point was whether it’s a “bit more than nothing” or the Duchy of Cornwall it’s not a level playing field compared to those that actually do inherit nothing
Agreed, although my argument was against *everything* going to the Treasury. I do agree that there should be a tax on inheritances (let's call it an inheritance tax), but I don't agree that wealth should be 100% reset for every generation. As I said above, my parents started with nothing, we had very little growing up but on their death they had a little something (the sale of their house) to share between three of us.
The Napoleonic code in France makes things easier - everybody gets a share - all children and spouse,
it is very difficult to disinherit, disadvantage , if you are alive you cannot gift all or part of your estate to favour an individual without tax and inheritance implications.
There are downsides - large families end up having to sell large properties they cannot share, but they do share the results of the sale.
Im very late to this discussion, however, one point, you are entitled to request a copy of the will, this will give you dates etc of when it was made and or changed.
As others have suggested, having a free 30 minute chat with the solicitor regarding the will if it was made/changed within the last year is a good idea.