Question from a reader: “Just a quick question - the ledger of prior gifts given to children and referred to in the will - is there a requirement that this document be included in the probate submission to the courts or is this simply considered private instructions to the executor on the final division and distribution of assets?”

The reader was referring to last week’s column where I provided a flexible and informal mechanism for a will-maker to record gifts that are to be taken into account to achieve fairness when their children receive their inheritances.

For example:

They might not add financial support to a child battling cancer to the ledger so as not to take that into account.

But a gift to another child enabling them to........

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