Inheritance rights of stepchildren

Over the years, the wills and succession questions I have been asked more often than any other concern stepchildren:

• Do they inherit on intestacy, where there’s no will?
• Where a will leaves assets to children, would that gift include 'step' children?

And the question is usually asked by grandparents, happy to see their wealth pass down the 'blood' line, but not to the children of, say, their son’s second wife.

Reference in a will to 'children' will mean biological and legally adopted children only; and intestacy law similarly benefits such children only.

Read the full article here.