Sharing inheritance

[NaughtyNC]

NC. Curious about this one.

My great aunt has left me about large sum of money.

She has 8 great nieces and nephews - i am the only great niece. My family (not my parents, they are going to split equally) are very much “money is left to males” only. My cousins hadn’t seen her in the ten (fifteen years for some) years before she died. I visited every time I could, helped with the house and went on holiday together twice a year, plus had her stay in London twice a year for a couple of days each time.

I didn't know anything about the money, or that she had that much. Apparently she spoke to my brother about it (he's an executor to the will) and my parents have known for years but didn't tell me incase she changed her mind.

My aunt has gone ape shite and wants me to share the money with her two boys (well all of them, but says it's unfair on her two boys). My brother has told me not to be a dick because her two boys both received 60,000 when my granddad died (they all did) and i received sweet FA. At that time there was no mention of any of them splitting the money with me. All the boys will receive the house and my nana’s savings when she dies.

What would you do?

[pklme]

I would follow your brother's advice. He and your parents knew, it was a deliberate decision on her part. You have missed out on other legacies. I would ignore your aunt.

[LIZS]

It will cause ill feeling whatever you do. Do the others not benefit at all? The executor should follow the wishes of your great aunt.

[SuburbanRhonda]

She made her intentions clear in her will. The inheritance is yours alone and it sounds like she's made the right decision.

[MrsMozart]

Keep it. She left it to you.

[MillionToOneChances]

Fuck that. You had an actual relationship with her which they did not. Also, being female doesn't make you not part of their family.

Keep every penny of your inheritance and just ignore anyone suggesting otherwise because they are beneath contempt.

[WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup]

It's yours! Enjoy it!

[Sassypants82]

Absolutely keep every red cent. As she intended you too. End of story.

[Sassypants82]

intended you to

[lalalalyra]

She made her intentions clear, and quite probably did so because a) you have a relationship with her and b) she knew you got nothing when your grandfather died.

I'd tell your Aunt that since there was no "even up" discussed when your grandfather died and you were the one who was left out you fail to see why your Aunt's wishes shouldn't be equally respected.

[BabySocksNeverStayOn]

It's yours!

[gamerchick]

Ask where your share was in past monies.

Keep it and enjoy.

[Soubriquet]

Keep it!!

Though can you clarify this?

She has 8 great nieces and nephews - i am the only great niece

Bit confusing

[Fiona2609]

The reason you make a will, your last will & testament, is to stipulate how you wish to dispose of your estate. If it were just a question of divvying everything up equally, it wouldn't be such a formal process and doubtless the state would also want its share.
Clearly your great-aunt wanted you to benefit from her estate. Respect her wishes and ask that others do, too.

[FishlessCake]

Please keep it all, your relationship with your aunt obviously meant a lot to her . If they were in your position they wouldn't even consider you.

[arethereanyleftatall]

I'd keep it. But only because of the grandad and what happened with his money. She hasn't got a leg to stand on because of that.
If it hadn't been for that, I might be tempted to share it, but actually that's clearly not what your great aunt wanted.
Keep it.

[RandomMess]

It's yours, it was what your Aunt wanted!!

I cannot believe all this sexist sh*t that only the males inherit

[NancyJoan]

Keep it. She left it to you, both because of you being you, but also because she felt the idea that only boys inherit is archaic and unfair (I'm guessing here).

[KingJoffreysRestingCuntface]

You follow the will.

That's why she wrote it. For people to follow.

Anything else is disrespecting her wishes and not really on.

[QuarterMileAtATime]

Mind-boggling.
Keep it, and remind your aunt of the other times that you were excluded. I'd be interested in what she has to say about that. Handy for them that you are the only Great Niece, or I expect this would have come up before!

[JustHereForThePooStories]

Though can you clarify this?

She has 8 great nieces and nephews - i am the only great niece

Bit confusing

How is that confusing? 1 great niece + 7 great nephews gives a total of 8.

[RebelandaStunner]

I would keep it and enjoy every penny.
It was your great aunts money and she wanted you to have it. Naff all to do with your interfering aunt.

[SuburbanRhonda]

soubriquet

I read it as eight altogether, though only one is a niece (the OP).

[Soubriquet]

That makes sense now. Thank you Rhonda and PooStories

Couldn't get my head round it. Brain is a little slow today. Strong painkillers

[TheGruffaloMother]

Keep every penny. If she believes your great aunt wasn't in her right mind when the will was written, she can take it up in the appropriate manner, not try to bully the beneficiary.