Why might someone choose to decline an inheritance?
Deciding to accept or reject an inheritance is irreversible. Accepting means embracing all the assets, including any debts, and handling all succession-related expenses. Conversely, rejecting means letting go of the entire inheritance.
Due to this, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the inheritance’s contents and consult a legal or inheritance expert.
Here are the key reasons one might find it best to decline an inheritance:
Exorbitant Estate Taxes:
Inheritances from non-family or distant relatives can incur high estate taxes.
Inheriting necessitates the payment of estate tax, and possibly a municipal capital gains tax on property. These taxes depend on the deceased’s location and the heir’s relation to them—the less closely related, the higher the taxes. If the inheritance lacks cash and you lack personal funds, the estate tax bill could be the deciding factor against acceptance.
Inheriting Debt:
Inheriting means acquiring the deceased’s entire estate, which includes assets and potential debts. As the new owner, you also inherit the obligation to settle any outstanding debts.
One can avoid assuming unknown debts by accepting the inheritance “with the benefit of inventory.” This option allows heirs to protect their personal assets, using only the inherited estate to settle debts.
However, it’s wise to first conduct a thorough investigation of the deceased’s assets and liabilities. Should the debts outweigh the assets, it’s often wiser to reject the inheritance.
Family Disputes:
Inheritances can become contentious when multiple heirs are involved. Agreement is essential for inheritance and potential property sales. Disagreements can escalate over property divisions, prompting some heirs to relinquish their claim to avoid conflict.
Previous family rifts and strained relationships can also make renunciation a more peaceful option, sparing further discord.
Illiquid Assets:
Some inheritances include assets that aren’t readily convertible to cash, like mortgaged properties or those under lease agreements.
If debts need paying and the property can’t be sold due to tenants or existing mortgages, the situation complicates. Without personal funds to cover succession expenses, rejecting the inheritance may become the necessary choice.