Inheritance Share With Spouse
Calculator

Inputs

Spouse's share
200,000

Results

Spouse's share
200,000
Amount left for the children
200,000
Share per child
66,666.666666
Each child's share of the estate (%)
16.666666

Legal and admin results

Spouse's share200,000
Amount left for the children200,000
Share per child66,666.666666
Each child's share of the estate (%)16.666666

formula-map diagram

Spouse's share
200,000
Amount left for the children
200,000
Share per child
66,666.666666
Each child's share of the estate (%)
16.666666

Legal and admin relationship

Formula

Spouse = estate × fraction ; each child = (estate − spouse share) ÷ children

= 200000

Note

This is NOT legal advice and NOT a statement of any law. It is generic arithmetic: it applies the displayed formula to the figures you entered, and every rate, fraction, factor, cap and threshold shown is a value YOU supply, not a statutory or court-approved figure. No jurisdiction's rule is built in. Real entitlements, fees, interest, support amounts and deadlines depend entirely on the jurisdiction, the wording of the contract, the day-count and rounding conventions the court applies, and the facts of the case. Use these figures only as a rough arithmetic check and consult a qualified lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction before relying on any number.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a surviving spouse typically inherit when there are also children?+

This varies significantly by jurisdiction: some give the spouse a fixed share plus a portion of the remainder, others split everything equally among the spouse and children, and some give the spouse the whole estate if all children are also the deceased's children with that spouse. Check your specific jurisdiction's rule rather than assuming a universal formula.

Does this calculation apply if there was a valid will?+

No — a valid will generally overrides the default intestate shares this calculator estimates, except for protections like a spousal elective share that can override even a will's terms in some jurisdictions. This tool estimates intestate succession (dying without a will), not what a specific will provides.

What is a spousal elective share?+

It's a legal protection in many jurisdictions letting a surviving spouse claim a minimum percentage of the estate (often a third to a half) even if the deceased's will left them less or nothing. This can override the will's stated distribution up to that statutory minimum.

How does the number of children affect the spouse's share?+

In many intestacy schemes, the spouse's share decreases as the number of children increases, since children collectively claim a larger portion of the remainder; some jurisdictions instead give the spouse a flat percentage regardless of how many children there are. The calculator follows the model for the jurisdiction you select.

What if the deceased had children from a previous relationship?+

Many jurisdictions treat this differently, sometimes reducing the surviving spouse's automatic share when children aren't also the surviving spouse's children, to protect those children's inheritance. This is a common area where intestacy rules diverge sharply between jurisdictions, so verify locally.