There are certain family situations that may lead New Yorkers to want to leave their children differing amounts of their estates. This may be because the parent is closer to one child than the other, or one may simply be less financially established and need more help than the other one.
Leaving children different amounts of assets in wills can lead to significant conflict after a parent dies. The child who receives the lesser amount may challenge the will’s validity in probate court. If the contest is successful, then the court may disregard the will and pass the estate’s assets according to the intestacy laws of New York.