Do stepchildren have inheritance rights?
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Do stepchildren have inheritance rights?
My sister recently passed away and left her house and contents to my husband and I. Her husband passed away 12 years ago; his children are grown (ages 45 and 47). My sister never adopted them and has had no contact with them for the last 10-11 years. Do they have any legal rights to the real estate or contents? My sister made it very clear to me, verbally, that she did not want either of his kids to have anything.
Asked on July 25, 2014 under Estate Planning, Missouri
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
No. He predeceased your sister and therefore, there isn't anything that is jointly owned at this point that would go to them. If she, for some reason, had the children titled on anything, they would get those items.
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