Every parent starts out believing they’ll keep things perfectly fair. However, when it’s time to break out the will, “equal” starts looking more like “situational.” In fact, there are moments when favoring one child just makes total sense. Shocking? Maybe. Sensible? Definitely. So, here are ten moments where choosing favorites might actually be the fairest thing you do.
When One Child Is The Primary Caregiver
When a child becomes the primary caregiver, their life shifts dramatically. They manage health routines, offer emotional support, and often relocate or give up on their goals to provide care. Hence, favoring them in a will acknowledges years of sacrifice and irreplaceable personal devotion.
After A Child Covers Long-Term Parental Expenses
Sometimes, one child might quietly take over the bills—groceries, rent, medications—never asking for payback, just making sure their parents stay afloat. Money leaves their account each month, unnoticed by others. Years can pass this way, and a will becomes the one chance to recognize that steady financial lifeline.
When A Child Forgoes Career Growth To Stay Close to Home
A child may quietly pass on the big job or the dream city—just to stay close. That choice can mean fewer opportunities or even strained relationships. Still, their constant presence keeps parents grounded. They catch the emergencies before they spiral and fill in every quiet gap no one else sees.
If One Sibling Has Significant Special Needs
A sibling with special needs may never live fully independently, no matter how much love surrounds them. They might require lifelong support. An “equal” inheritance could disqualify them from vital services. Extra provisions, often through a trust, protect their future without burdening others or risking misuse.
When One Child Assumes Legal Guardianship
One child agrees to become the legal guardian, and everything changes. They decide on housing, approve medical treatments, manage legal forms, and speak on behalf of a parent who no longer can. That means every emergency lands in their lap first, and every decision carries legal and emotional weight.
After A Child Saves The Family Home
A child who saves the family home often does so quietly. Sometimes, they step in just days before a sale to stop the loss. Meanwhile, others continue to enjoy the home without ever knowing what it costs to keep it standing. Favoring this child in a will is about honoring the one who stepped up when everything was on the line.
If A Business Was Handed To One Heir
Handing a family business to one child changes everything as they take on the stress of keeping it alive. Many work long before ownership, without fair pay, building something meant to last. Splitting that business could destroy what they helped sustain. Some families even agree to keep others out of operations to protect stability.
If A Child Inherits Religious Responsibilities
One child may be chosen to carry the family’s religious responsibilities. This role can shape their entire life, from where they live to what they give up. Others aren’t asked to make the same sacrifices. A will that reflects this means you are acknowledging a lifelong obligation taken on for the sake of everyone else.
When One Child Takes Over The Family Farm
Not every kid dreams of running a tractor before breakfast—but one does, and they stay when everyone else moves on. Taking over the farm means long days and a future tied to land, debt, and duty. It’s a life built around keeping something whole. Dividing it would break it.
After A Sibling Is Estranged By Their Own Choice
A sibling who cuts ties walks away from more than just conversation. Some disappear for decades and ask to be left out of family matters entirely. That’s their choice, but it comes with consequences. A parent has no obligation to leave an inheritance where there’s been no relationship.
