Q: My children are already arguing over who gets what when I die - what's the best way to handle this?
A:
Spend it all before you die and leave them nothing?
That is obviously not a 'serious' answer, but ultimately, it really SHOULD BE the goal of anyone. Estate planning is about first and foremost taking care of yourself and not being a burden on your kids unnecessarily as you age.
If you have enough to be sure you won't use it all yourself, then your kids should be GLAD they get anything! In your position, I'd be telling the kids 'who said any of you are getting anything?' Charity X and Y, and the local Charity Z are all in line ahead of you so don't be so greedy. You will get family photos and my ashes so be nice to each other instead of fighting about 'stuff' '
I know that isn't really a 'legal' answer, but YOU need to decide what to do, and then seek out a local estate planning attorney to help implement what YOU want from there!
Good luck, and I hope your kids get smarter as they get older. Family shouldn't fight over 'stuff'.
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