Divorce fears ‘hit inheritance plans’
A THIRD of parents are reluctant to leave money when they die to their married children in case they get divorced, research shows.
And one in four parents admitted they were not confident the marriages of their offspring would last, according to a study by investment firm Rensburg Sheppards.
But 72 per cent would like to see pre-nuptial agreements become binding in the UK, as this will enable them to make gifts to children.
Nick Gartland, a financial planning director at Rensburg Sheppards, said: “Given the UK’s high divorce rate, it is understandable many parents are pessimistic about how marriages will turn out.
“They may often be reluctant to interfere in their children’s choice of partner for fear of causing a rift. Yet their concerns are more likely to be expressed by putting off gifting assets to children or any inheritance planning.
“Couples may object to pre-nuptial agreements – but if these were to become legally binding, they would play a key role in overcoming the inheritance tax planning blockages affecting families.”
