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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell my elderly father that I do have objections to him marrying his partner he met 6 months after my mother died?

483 replies

Perimomof2 · 29/11/2025 19:02

My mother died 5 years ago quite suddenly after a short illness. My dad was devastated, they’d been together 50+ years. But later the same year he announced that he’d met someone, similar age and also widowed. They have been together ever since, not exactly living together but they live close by so pretty much do everything as a couple.
My sibling and I didn’t object, he was happy enough and had been clear from the start that he wouldn’t be moving in with her or vice versa and had no intention of marrying again. We don’t particularly like her (my DF has no idea, we include her in pretty much everything) but that’s our problem, not theirs.

Fast forward 5 years, he asked me out of the blue if I had any objection to them marrying. I said I did. That it was something he said wouldn’t happen, and that if I gave them my blessing it would feel disrespectful to my DM’s memory.

Was I wrong to say this? I’m concerned that if he marries his wife will have POA around health and finances and that his estate (house and savings which were accumulated jointly with my DM) will not pass solely to his two children but to his wife who his has known for a relatively short time and will subsequently be split with her children. For context, his estate is likely to be considerably larger than hers.

OP posts:
glendabrownlow · 29/11/2025 19:11

Your dad can do what he likes and as PP said, it seems you are worried about your inheritance.

ultracynic · 29/11/2025 19:10

YANBU to feel that way and practically speaking it seems unnecessary given they’ve no shared assets. I am in a similar position and wouldn’t want mum to marry her chap, lovely though he is (and he’s also considerably wealthier so I doubt his daughters would want that either!)

HoskinsChoice · 29/11/2025 19:09

A relatively short time? They've been together for 5 years! I think you're being hugely unreasonable, firstly because I can't imagine why you wouldn't want your dad to be happy, I'm sure your mum would. Secondly, your dad can do whatever he likes with his money. You are putting your inheritance before your dad's happiness and making some pretty judgemental assumptions on both your dad and his partner. I appreciate grief gets in the way of sensible thinking but kindly, I think you need to apologise and find a way to make things better, you are being hugely unreasonable.

ChikinLikin · 29/11/2025 19:09

Would you feel comfortable telling him your worries about your inheritance of the estate that was half accumulated by your mum? There are ways of protecting your inheritance if he is willing to. I'm sure your mum would have wanted that. You could see a solicitor together. Then you can be glad he has a new life partner.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 29/11/2025 19:07

I'm sure someone will be along to tell me i am a money grubbing arsehole...but business is business.
Yanbu.

I wouldnt remarry in those circs and on that basis i wouldnt expect my parent to.

So I would be very open that i have massive concerns re: my mothers estate not going to her children / GC and his estate tbh... and POA in event of illness.

All my aunts and uncles.that are on their "second marriage" are unmarried because they have children. think its poor decision making to be frank.

sladtheinkaler · 29/11/2025 19:07

I'm sorry you lost your mum, OP.

Yes, I think you're being unreasonable. 5 years later is hardly out of the blue. And your reasons seem to be about your inheritance, not your father's happiness.

Meadowfinch · 29/11/2025 19:06

Honestly, he's been with the new lady for 5 years. Perhaps he loves her and wants to share his later years with her.

If he is capable of marriage, he is perfectly capable of making a will that will consider everyone's needs.

I understand that it may be upsetting but I think you need to let him live his life.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 29/11/2025 19:06

It's five years and you're more worried about your inheritance than anything else.