People can inherit epilepsy from either parent. According to a 2021 study, there is a higher chance of people inheriting epilepsy from a mother with epilepsy than from a father with epilepsy.
If both parents have gene mutations that link to epilepsy, it increases the chance that a child will develop epilepsy. It is also possible for both parents to have epilepsy and for a child to be seizure-free.
Children may have a higher risk of inheriting epilepsy if they have parents who have generalized seizures rather than focal seizures.