Would you give all of your children equal portions--completely regardless of behavior and/or attitude toward you?
Would you take into account anything they have done to deserve something "above and beyond"?
hell no, it would totally depend upon how they lived and the relationship, i would however start at equal shares and work out my math accordingly. you have those children who are always in trouble and who you have to bail out and you end up spending a HUGE amount of money keeping them out of jail....... i would consider that and reduce their part accordingly. there are also those who leave and never come back........... who dont talk to you or lift a finger to assist you to the doctor and there is the one that DOES............ that always is there for you.......... i would adjust their inheritance upward accordingly
Is a child always entitled to an inheritance? (I don't mean legally, I mean, in your opinion)
no a child isnt always deserveing............. not of money or real estate........ now pictures and personal items....... yeah prolly so. that way they know that you thought enough of them to give them something. that would be a huge F U to after your death still snub them and who wants to go to their grave doing that.
Is it love to give an inheritance unconditionally?
Is it love (in a certain form) to withhold or limit an inheritance? If so, under what conditions?
ok i know people who would spend a million dollars at burger king in two months........ so alot of the time a parent knows how to keep their children cared for by limiting or extending pay out.
i know some people who put the inheritance into a trust to pay out equal payments yearly or monthly to their irresponsible child. ive even known some to leave it all to said child under the direction of his older siblings or more mature responsible ones. that way he can have access to whatever he needs........... as long as they agree. problem with that is you gotta KNOW that your older children are good enough NOT to have a problem and try to take his share.
ive also known some parents who had children who were addicts........... parents owned a construction company and the company was managed by some lawyers so it continued to make money after they passed......... but due to their daughters problems she had to take a drug test to get her monthly stipend. she had a place to stay but thats it............. everything else she had to pay for weekly or montly and if she showed up hot........... she didnt get that money instead it went to a local charity.
lots of reasons to withold or delay inheritance.
on a personal note.......... i hope that my parents use up every single dime they have before they die.......... cause they could be worth 100 billion and id spend it all to have them back............ even tho they are currently shunning me. i got my guns......... i got pictures of everyone............... i dont need anything else from them.......... except their love