Some people have a godchild besides their own biological child, and that’s okay. People have godchildren mostly for religious purposes. In certain religions, people take on godchildren so they can be religiously guided. It’s largely a religious thing.
There will be times, however, when godparents decide to leave behind part of their assets to their godchildren. The godchildren can be named beneficiaries in their wills and trusts legally. Although it is a legal process and a valid one at that, it does not mean it can be universally accepted by their own biological children.
We should be frank with ourselves. Biological children and godchildren are people too, they have feelings and emotions. When a godchild is named as a legal beneficiary, it may cause some friction between them and the godchildren. It’s normal and it can happen to anyone.
Can the biological child challenge the decision?
Parents can name godchildren as beneficiaries in their wills, there is no doubt about that. However, it does not mean the biological child can and will accept that decision. The biological child can bring this to court and challenge the will.
Whether the outcome is in favor of the biological child or not, it really depends on the final ruling of the court. The reasons why a biological child challenges the will that includes a godchild can be many. It can vary from a case to case basis.
For the most part, when the biological child challenges the will, it’s mostly out of unhappiness and jealousy. They are not happy because the godchild is getting something out of their godparents even when they are not biological children. Anything goes.
However, godparents can still legally name a godchild as a beneficiary. As a matter of fact, parents can name anyone as their beneficiaries in their wills as long as the will is legalized and validated by a certified lawyer.
People can challenge it and there may be cases where the beneficiary is taken off the will. The circumstances differ and it is on a case-to-case basis. No 2 court cases are similar.
Why can parents name godchildren as beneficiaries?
People can name anyone as their beneficiaries. As a matter of fact, people can even name institutions, their mistresses, their step-children, and even their best friends as their beneficiaries. As long as they legalize the will, then the assets will also go to these non-biological beneficiaries too.
For a lot of people, they cannot accept this decision. That is why they brought it to court to have the will contested. For the most part, people do not want a non-blood-related person getting those assets when they have no rights to it.
People often see godchildren as spiritual children in need of spiritual guidance. There are no legal relations between the godparent and the godchild. Their relationship is religious for the most part, and most times it ends there.
However, there will be times when the godparent sees the godchild as their own biological child. That is why the godparent will name the godchild as their beneficiary.
What happens if the will is not valid?
Let’s say there was a well-made and the godchild is included in it. However, the will is not legalized and validated by a lawyer. That means the last will that is legal and validated will be followed. If the godchild is included in the last validated will, then yes the godchild will also receive their fair share of their asset portion.
As long as the will is valid, and if the godchild is included, then the godchild will receive their part.
