Inheritance

[kfpg]

Can anyone explain how siblings are treated in relation to inheritance in the absence of a will? Does every child automatically receive an equal share? Is there any advantage that the oldest or especially the oldest male in the group has in law?

Also if there is no will does the governmenty automatically take a big slice even when there are obvious dependents? If there is a will does the government take anything?

 

[WaterSprite]

Can anyone explain how siblings are treated in relation to inheritance in the absence of a will? Does every child automatically receive an equal share? Is there any advantage that the oldest or especially the oldest male in the group has in law?

If there is no spouse and there are only children and someone dies intestate, the estate is divided equally between the children. If there was a preference for the oldest male, there'd (rightfully IMO) be uproar! Blurb [broken link removed] (click on "more" to see the entitlements under intestacy).

Also if there is no will does the governmenty automatically take a big slice even when there are obvious dependents? If there is a will does the government take anything?

Any beneficiary may be liable to tax, regardless of whether they get a bequest via a will or via intestacy. There are tax thresholds before a beneficiary pays tax (the level depends on the familial relationship with the deceased - for e.g. it's about €521k in 2008 for a child) and beneficiaries pay 20% over that threshold.