# You have no kids. What will you do with your estate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2015, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709 "2015-01-13T13:18:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709/61 "2015-01-14T15:08:09Z")
First come, first served. Everything must go. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709/62 "2015-01-14T19:41:31Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > If you don’t have something earmarked, it’s a big mess, and the state will get most of it. Why so you assume the state will get most of it? Intestacy laws normally have the possibility of distribution to distant relatives. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709/63 "2015-01-16T19:38:12Z")
I would enjoy the hell out of any money anyone wants to bequeath to me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheSeaOtter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ed655f/32.png) [@TheSeaOtter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheSeaOtter)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709/64 "2015-01-16T20:56:46Z")
I don’t (at present) plan on having any children, but I have family. No siblings, but quite a few cousins, several of whom have one or more children. I’m reasonably content to leave them modest bequests from Crazy Great-Uncle Seaotter. If I have amassed such wealth that there’s a significant amount left over, I’ll start a foundation. It’ll give grants to scientific, charitable, and artistic projects. As legacies go, having your name attached to important inventions, works of art and so on isn’t bad at all. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709/65 "2015-01-16T21:29:33Z")
> [@buddy431](#): > > No, I understand. I think my point is largely true for everyone mentioning nieces and nephews too. When you’re young-middle aged (as it sounds like many in this thread are), it can make sense to give it to your brother’s kid. When you make it to 60, I’m sure the nephew would appreciate it, but it’d probably have a greater impact going to his kids. When I’m 60, my nephew will be 28. My cousin’s kid and my best friend’s kid will be 23. Those ages are still young enough for the money to be of use – more schooling, to help with a down payment on a house, whatever. If they were going to be 50, that’s another matter. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709/66 "2015-01-16T23:09:56Z")
I have a nephew and niece. I have a place-holder will structured so they’ll get a small amount at 18, another amount at 22, and the rest at 25. Of course, I hope to be alive to give it to them myself (and so avoid inheritance tax). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-no-kids-what-will-you-do-with-your-estate/709709.md?page=3)