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Can I disinherit an adopted child?

Nolo Nolo
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Question:

Is it legal for adoptive parents to disinherit their adopted children?

Answer:

Adopted children are treated the same as biological children for purposes of the inheritance laws. Under these laws, any child -- adopted or biological -- may be disinherited as long as it's clear in the disinheriting parent's will that such is his or her intent. Otherwise, the child may qualify as an overlooked heir (called "pretermitted" in legal jargon) who might be able to claim a portion of the parent's estate after death. The key is to be clear about your wishes during life -- and put them in writing.

Learn more about Inheritance Rights.

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You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

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