Fairness in Division of Family Assets

Wills can expose strong emotions in families, for they raise uncomfortable issues: death, money, and how survivors were perceived by important people in their lives. If a parent’s will specifies that one son receive less than another, does it mean the parent loved that child less, had more faith in his ability to be successful, or was simply acknowledging and anticipating differences in the children’s needs?

The easiest way to avoid conflicts and hurt feelings is to give an equal amount to each of the children and/or grandchildren. Equality may avoid conflicts and complaints but it does not necessarily mean fairness. Fairness requires some thought and forces you to take into account the particular circumstances of each individual, even at the risk of creating conflict.

Your children are of different ages, talents, interests, needs, and material resources. A practical approach to the division of your assets is to recognize, and perhaps compensate for, those differences. See our article on the various options for distributing your assets. Your estate plan gives you an opportunity to provide a measure of fairness that your children may not otherwise have found in their lives.

Consider the following scenarios:

Different ages: You have two children, ages 21 and 13. Should you split your estate in half, even though the 21-year old is finishing up four years of a private college education and the 13-year old has a lot farther to go?

Different Assets: Your daughter becomes a partner in an investment firm and quickly builds up $2 million in assets, while your son is a high school math teacher who earns $35,000 a year. Should you divide your estate into equal parts for your son and daughter?

Past Gifts: Five years ago you gave your now 28-year-old son $150,000 worth of stock in your business as an inducement to work with you, but you have not given your 22-year-old son a similar gift. Should you divide the assets of your estate equally?

Investments: You have given one child stock in Company A, which has tripled in value to $120,000, and you gave the other child stock in Company B, which has gone bankrupt. How should you allocate your remaining assets?

From these examples, you can see how an equal division of assets can lead to unequal results and you can see why you need to make reasoned and careful decisions as you decide how you leave your property. Fortunately, you can achieve more equitable results and a greater level of fairness among children. For example, you can offset assets, such as a business, that will be turned over to one child by cash from life insurance policies that will go to the other children.

Though it may be uncomfortable, try to discuss your estate plans with your family, talking about these issues and explaining your logic means that your actions are less likely to be misunderstood or cause family strife. (Read more information on Dividing Your Estate among the Chosen Beneficiaries – Minimizing Confusion.)

Dividing your assets is always difficult. Discuss your estate planning needs with a trusted attorney, and, in the long run, your children and family will benefit from your careful planning.

Case Studies: Fairness in Division of Family Assets

Case Study 1: Different Ages and Educational Needs

John has two children, Sarah, aged 21, and David, aged 13. In his estate plan, John must determine the division of his assets. Despite the desire for equal treatment, John recognizes that Sarah is finishing up four years of private college education, while David has a long way to go. To account for the discrepancy in their educational needs, John decides to allocate a larger portion of his estate to support David’s future education expenses, ensuring fairness based on their individual circumstances.

Case Study 2: Different Financial Situations

Emily has a daughter, Lisa, who becomes a partner in an investment firm and accumulates $2 million in assets, while her son, Michael, works as a high school math teacher with an annual income of $35,000. In planning the division of her estate, Emily acknowledges the disparity in their financial situations. To achieve fairness, Emily decides to divide her assets proportionally based on their current financial needs rather than an equal division. This approach considers their individual circumstances and strives to provide support where it is most needed.

Case Study 3: Considering Past Gifts

Robert gave his older son, James, $150,000 worth of stock in his business five years ago as an incentive to work together. However, he did not make a similar gift to his younger son, Daniel. When Robert plans the distribution of his remaining assets, he acknowledges the past gift and wants to ensure fairness. As a result, Robert divides his assets in a way that takes into account the value of the previous gift, providing an equitable distribution among his children.