love has not disappeared even though the relationship has. Some leave equal shares to all children regardless of estrangement, believing that family conflicts can be complex and that assigning blame may be difficult.
Others leave a reduced amount — less than what other children receive, but not nothing — as a way of acknowledging the relationship without distributing an equal share. Some parents choose to leave assets to grandchildren from an estranged child’s family, thereby maintaining a financial connection with the next generation even when the parent-child relationship has broken down.
The Option of Conditions
Estate planning can also provide certain forms of conditional inheritance. Depending on local law, a trust may be structured to distribute funds only when specified conditions or events occur, such as reaching a particular age or meeting other legally permissible requirements.
More complex conditions can be difficult to enforce or may be restricted by law. Conditions involving
