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Legal experts are calling for a change in the law to allow more money to go to parents with dependent children if their spouse dies without a will.
The BBC reports bodies such as Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners want to see alterations to the England and Wales rule saying the first £125,000 of an estate is eligible for wives and civil partners.
According to the corporation's website, some surviving parents have said this is not enough and claim they could be forced to sell homes to pay inheritance tax bills.
Quoted by the BBC, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) president Geoffrey Shindler said: "I would increase the £125,000 immediately: I would say no less than £300,000 and I would index link this to the retail price index."
The BBC also reports the Ministry of Justice is planning to publish responses to a consultation paper from the Department for Constitutional Affairs recommending the amount is increased to £350,000 where the deceased has children and up to £650,000 if they do not.
STEP is a professional body providing members with a representation, training and networking services.
