When someone gets disinherited, it means two things. First, it means they had a reason to expect to inherit. They are either a family member of the person who is making the estate plan or they are a beneficiary who was previously included, even if they aren’t a direct relation. Second, it means that this person is being removed from the estate plan and won’t receive anything.
Often, this is done for relatively negative reasons. One common example is estrangement, which is when parents and children simply haven’t had contact for a long time. Another example is drug addiction. A child may make lifestyle decisions that parents don’t support, so they disinherit them to avoid funding that lifestyle. But are there any positive reasons?
Every situation is unique
Yes, there certainly can be positive reasons, and that’s why it’s so important to remember that every family situation is unique. Disinheriting someone may be seen as a negative event in one family, but it may not be negative at all in another.
For example, a parent may have two children. One has struggled with health complications and is only able to work part-time. The other is very successful and makes over $1 million a year. The parent may disinherit that second child just because they know that A) The well-to-do child doesn’t need the inheritance and B) The money could be very beneficial for the other child as they make ends meet and pay medical bills.
Don’t assume that a disinheritance has to be negative. Carefully consider all of the options you have, when drafting an estate plan.
