The answer may be yes.
And that is important information.
Perhaps the relationship has deteriorated beyond repair. Perhaps boundaries are necessary. Perhaps you have decided that your assets should go elsewhere.
But if your answer is no—if you would actually be relieved to hear from your child again—then the inheritance decision may be partly an expression of pain rather than a settled estate-planning decision.
You don’t have to pretend the estrangement doesn’t hurt.
You also don’t have to decide the future of your entire estate while you are at your most wounded.
You Can Separate Boundaries From Inheritance
One of the most useful distinctions is between relationship boundaries and financial punishment.
You may decide that you cannot continue accepting abusive communication.
You may decide that you will stop chasing a child who does not want contact.
You may decide that you will respect their space.
Those decisions do not necessarily require you to make an immediate decision about inheritance.
