Inheritance Split
Free Inheritance Split calculator with clear step-by-step results.
About Inheritance Split
Distributes an estate in the order the law generally requires: specific legacies and charitable bequests are satisfied first from the net estate, the spouse's share is taken from what remains, and only the residue is divided among children - which is why a large fixed legacy can quietly reduce every child's share.
Formulas
Distributable estate
Distributable = net estate - charitable bequest - specific legacies
Per child share
Per child = distributable x (1 - spouse share) / number of children
Worked example
With the default values below, Inheritance Split returns Share per child of $130,833.33. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.
Inputs used
- Net estate valueminimum 0 $
- 850,000 $
- Share to surviving spouseaccepts 0–100 %
- 50 %
- Children sharing the residueaccepts 0–20
- 3
- Fixed charitable bequestminimum 0 $
- 25,000 $
- Specific cash legaciesminimum 0 $
- 40,000 $
Results
- Share per child
- $130,833.33
- Surviving spouse's entitlement
- $392,500.00
- Residue divided among children
- $392,500.00
- Distributable estate after fixed gifts
- $785,000.00
Step by step
- 1Values used
- 2Distributable estate
- 3Per child share
- 4Share per child= $130,833.33
- 5Surviving spouse's entitlement= $392,500.00
- 6Residue divided among children= $392,500.00
- 7Distributable estate after fixed gifts= $785,000.00
Assumptions and limits
- The result is derived only from the 5 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
- In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
- Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
- Not legal advice. Intestacy rules, forced heirship, spousal entitlements and tax treatment differ substantially between jurisdictions. Consult a qualified estate lawyer for any actual distribution.
How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.
Not legal advice. Intestacy rules, forced heirship, spousal entitlements and tax treatment differ substantially between jurisdictions. Consult a qualified estate lawyer for any actual distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the spouse always get a fixed share?
No. Intestacy rules vary widely - some jurisdictions give the spouse a statutory legacy plus a share of residue, others give everything to the spouse where there are no children. A valid will overrides most defaults.
What if a child has died?
Many jurisdictions substitute that child's own children, taking their parent's share between them. That is not modelled here and needs legal input.