Who can inherit your property if you have no immediate heirs?

A: We get a lot of questions about estates and inheritances, primarily because a house typically makes up the biggest portion of an estate. Parents are always concerned about whether they should split an inheritance equally (quick answer: not always), and we try to provide options for a variety of circumstances.

Occasionally, we’ve been asked how to avoid leaving family (the presumed heirs) any part of an estate. Parents or other relatives typically seek to exclude family members when there has been an emotional or physical break: Perhaps someone has done something truly horrific or maybe they’ve just been unkind, forgetful or simply absent from family life.

Over the years we’ve been writing this column, we’ve helped readers sort through a variety of problems, ranging from emotional to elder abuse to financial abuse — all of which are valid reasons to avoid leaving someone a piece of your estate.

But you don’t need a reason to exclude someone from getting your money or property after you die. You just need to decide what you want to do and then take steps to ensure your wishes are carried out.