The news that you will be receiving an inheritance is often bittersweet because it means that somebody close to you has passed away. But you might also have mixed emotions about your inheritance for reasons that have to do with the actual accounts or property you are inheriting.
On the one hand, you might not want to reject your inheritance out of respect for the person who put you in their will or trust or named you as the beneficiary of an account or policy. On the other hand, depending on what you have been gifted, an inheritance might pose unintended logistical or financial difficulties that you are unable—or unwilling—to take on.
An inheritance, like the loss of a loved one, can be life-changing. While there is no law that requires you to accept an inheritance, there are sometimes good reasons for doing so. And if you choose to turndown a gift, that does not mean it will end up in the hands of the state. Prior to accepting or rejecting an inheritance, you might want to seek legal and tax advice about the implications of either decision.
When Estate Planning Does Not Go To Plan
An estate plan contains instructions for distributing a person’s money and property when they pass away. Some families discuss who will receive certain accounts or property. For example, maybe all of the kids are asked if they would like to inherit an item from mom’s collection of family heirlooms.
In an effort to be fair, most testators (i.e., persons who have made a will or created an estate plan) or trustmakers divide their money and property equally among heirs. There are cases where one child or heir may be given a larger inheritance based on a larger caregiving role or contribution of their time to the family in some other way. But typically, there are family talks about such matters to ensure that everyone is in agreement and the unequal inheritance doesnot spur intrafamily resentment and conflict.
However, unexpected inheritances are not out of the question. Testators or trustmakers are under no legal obligation to be fair. Generally, they are entitled to divide up their assets however they see fit. Furthermore, family dynamics can shift and force changes in an estate plan.
For instance, maybe there are three siblings, and two of them have rocky marriages. The testator may have a provision in their will that gives the executor discretion to address this situation and keep their assets out of the hands of a sibling’s soon-to-be ex-spouse, such as by disinheriting a sibling or reducing their inheritance if their marriage is on the verge of failing at the time of probate. Or, a testator could simply decideto write an heir out of the will altogether and assign their share of an estate to somebody else.
Similarly, the death of an heir could result in estate assets being reassigned. Indeed, there are many situations that could result in a surprise inheritance. Maybe you have a childless uncle or friend who wanted to surprise you with a windfall. Up until the moment a person passes away, a person is free to amend their will. Heirs usually have some idea of what they will be inheriting from whom, but estate planning does not always go according to plan.
Gookin Law is happy to assist you with all your Estate Planning needs and we offer a FREE initial consultation. Feel free to email or call us 970-414-0849.
We also have an office in Tucson, AZ.
(This is informational only and is not intended to be legal advice.)