Inheritance Split Calculator
Divide an estate among heirs after debts and expenses — an equal per-heir share, with an optional charitable bequest off the top.
How it works
Distributable = estate − debts − off-the-top bequests · Per heir = distributable ÷ number of heirs
Before an estate is divided among heirs, its debts, final taxes, funeral and administration costs, and any specific or charitable bequests come off the top. What remains — the residuary estate — is what gets split. This calculator assumes an equal split among heirs; real wills often specify unequal shares or per-stirpes distribution, and state intestacy laws govern when there is no will.
Worked example
A $600,000 estate with $50,000 of debts and no charitable bequest leaves $550,000 to distribute. Split among 3 heirs, each receives about $183,333.
Frequently asked questions
What comes out before heirs are paid?
Outstanding debts, final income and estate taxes, funeral costs, and estate-administration fees are paid first, followed by any specific gifts named in the will. Only the residue is divided among the residuary heirs.
Does this handle unequal shares?
This tool assumes an equal split. If a will assigns percentages or fixed amounts, apply those to the distributable estate figure it produces rather than dividing evenly.
What happens with no will?
State intestacy laws decide the split, typically prioritizing a spouse and children in fixed proportions. The exact shares vary by state, so this equal-split model is only a rough guide in that case.
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Educational estimate, not financial or legal advice.