Originally Posted by
jdbelet
I just think its crap that a child has no control in this situation because I know that New York state law that if I wasnt adopted, everything from my bio dad would go to me. Hes never had anymore kids, im his only child. Where as my step dad has three plus me. The laws need to be changed. I should be able to inherit from both.
I wanted to address this comment. First a 7 yr old is not capable of contributing to such a decision. I totally disagree that a child should have any control in this situation.
Second, as Joy has said, you don't know the law. The law in NYS allows a parent to disinherit a child though its complicated to do so.
Disinheriting a Relative Can Be Complicated | New York Elder Law and New York Estate Planning
Also that article has other good news for you, the law in LA is that you CANNOT disinherit a child. So your legal dad cannot leave you out of his will, though he can control what portion you get.
Rich people rarely die intestate, plus they have the money to hire savvy estate lawyers to build ironclad wills.
The bottom line here is I think you are very wrong about the laws having to be changed. The current laws do not prohibit you from inheriting from both if both choose to include you in their wills.
I also wonder about these tax purposes you refer to. If you are referring to your step dad needing to be your legal father to declare you as a dependent on his tax return, that is not accurate.