re: Anyone else not on speaking terms with a parent?

"It's crazy how many times the idea of an inheritance can send a loving family into complete chaos’

Absolutely true. I’ve worked for estate sale companies for years, and have seen it rip families apart. Not just kids being greedy, but parents leaving things inequitably that causes friction. (Like leave big share to the ne’er-do-well because the other adult kids "don’t need it.") Sometimes it would be better to leave it all to St Jude!

I think a person has a right to do what they want with their own money. However, if you have 5 kids, and all five are decent folks, why not leave it split 5 ways? Trying to fine tune it and say the teacher needs more than the Dr. can, and will, cause hard feelings in many cases. Also, skipping your own kids and making grandkids heirs is another way to stir up shite after you are gone. It takes a strong family to weather lopsided distribution, no matter how well intentioned it is.

Modern families, with "yours, mine, and ours", or late third marriages with no kids, but kids with previous wives….wow…how does one even begin to figure out "fair" distribution. Almost a guaranteed shite show.