AITA for wanting our will to provide equally between our shared children?

A woman entered her second marriage with substantially more assets—about 15 times more than her husband—including inheritance from her late first husband. She has always treated the money as fully shared, even proposing that their combined estate be divided equally among all seven children from their previous relationships. Now, after her husband disowned two of his three children, he insists the portions originally allocated to them should be redirected entirely to his one remaining child.

This would give his son three-sevenths of the total estate while each of her four children still receives only one-seventh. She views this as unfair and has refused to agree, prompting anger from her husband. She now wonders whether standing firm on equal treatment for the remaining five children makes her wrong or if she’s right to protect her children’s share.

‘AITA for wanting our will to provide equally between our shared children?’

The original plan treated all children equally.

I brought considerably more assets into our relationship than my husband, about 15x more. I’ve always treated the money as equally belonging to us both.

I felt like I further demonstrated this attitude when I said our will should leave equal amounts to all our shared children (seven in all). Now my husband has disowned...

The husband’s change in family circumstances shifted his position.

Rather than share our estate equally between the now five children, he wants all the money that would have gone to his three children to now go to his one...

The disagreement has become heated.

and my four children will each get the same 1/7 we had originally planned. I’ve told him this doesn’t seem fair and he has gotten ugly about it.

The wife’s initial generosity—treating premarital assets as fully shared and proposing equal division among all seven children—was kind but left her own children vulnerable. The husband’s decision to disown two children drastically altered the landscape, yet his demand to redirect their full shares to his remaining child effectively triples that child’s portion while preserving his original one-seventh for each of her four. This creates a clear imbalance favoring his lineage over hers, despite her assets forming the bulk of the estate.

Many see this as entitlement: the husband seeks to maximize benefits for his favored child while expecting her to accept a diminished share for hers. Others might argue that disownment changes family obligations, but most emphasize that her premarital wealth (especially from a late spouse) carries a moral duty to prioritize her own children’s future security.

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The broader lesson is clear: blended-family wills require separate consideration of premarital assets, often through trusts or explicit designations. Equal division sounds fair in theory, but life events—such as disownment—can expose hidden imbalances. The wife’s refusal protects her children’s interests without punishing anyone; it simply maintains the original intent adjusted proportionally for the current family reality.

Here’s the feedback from the Reddit community:

The vast majority strongly supported the wife, insisting her children should not receive less due to the husband’s decisions.

Guilty-Committee9622 − Honestly if you go first your kids will get nothing. Please take care of your children. From a kid who saw it go to the step mom and...

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ReferenceNo4437 − "I brought considerably more assets into our relationship than my husband, about 15x more. ” Just No. No way your children should get less. It feels like he’s...

jrm1102 − NTA - the money is from OPS late husband so IDK why the new husbands kid is even getting anything let alone 3/7ths OP really should separate their...

Umm why did he “disavow” two of these kids? I suppose we can start there? * *Oh and he has 3 kids and you have 4, both not with each...

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Ok_Day_8559 − YTA. You had no right to combine the inheritance from your children’s father with your current husband’s finances. You have f’d up big time.

You are not protecting your own children’s rights. Stop being a doormat and start thinking about how you can protect the inheritance for YOUR CHILDREN and not his kids. Do...

Several commenters emphasized separating assets and prioritizing her own children’s future.

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Individual-Foxlike − NTA. Either his kid should get 1/7th or 1/5th. There's no world where 3/7 is fair.

Both-Enthusiasm708 − NTA You should tell him you can separate assets and his kid can get his and your kids will get your assets.

It feels like he is trying to take from your kids and give to the one kid he has deemed deserves it, that is not fair. Your kids will feel...

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He is certainly looking out for his kids interests. Edit: Honestly I wouldn't have agreed to an even split between the seven of them I would have kept my assets...

At least make sure your kids get the sentimental/family stuff and really make it so he can't s__ew them over if you die first because he will.

world_diver_fun − NTA Husband sounds a really vindictive man.

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A few responses questioned the original equal-split plan given the asset disparity.

therealzacchai − Why the eff are you giving *any* money from your late husband to this guy's kids instead of your own? Obviously, it's yours to do as you like,...

I would be devastated if my mom gave the money my dad earned and his life insurance money to her second husband instead of us. I would feel the lack...

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old_motters − NTA. I can't believe this is an actual conversation. I strongly suggest you stand your ground on this. He disowned his kids, not you. These are the consequences.

Ornery-Young-8864 − Okay, there's only one way to do this. You take care of your kids only. However you choose to. And he takes care of his, however he chooses...

The wife’s refusal to let her husband redirect disowned children’s shares entirely to his remaining child protects her own children from an unfair reduction in inheritance. While she initially embraced full equality, the husband’s actions changed the family structure—and most agree her premarital assets (especially from a late spouse) carry a duty to prioritize her children’s security.

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The community largely views his demand as overreaching and urges separate estate planning. Should premarital assets in blended families always be kept separate, or is full commingling ever wise? Have you navigated inheritance or will disputes in a second marriage? Share your experiences below.

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