[KaptKaos]

I think the $15k "value" of the car 7 years ago is moot. The value of the vehicle now is $4k. Yes, the one child had the benefit of the car during that time, but so what? Parents rarely treat their kids fairly.

The value of the asset at the time of death is $4k. If you want to split that, then that's fine. The asset (Buick) depreciated over time, there is not much you can do about that.

Here's an example to think about. Let's assume it's a house, not a car. Let's say the house appreciated over 7 years from $100k to $150k. The sibling that was living in the house for those years, paying the upkeep, taxes, insurance, etc... Would you expect to split $100k 3-ways with the extra $50 going to the sibling that lived in the house for 7 years or $150k 3-ways?

The problem is that the asset, the Buick, depreciated.