Reject a complicated inheritance?

[MacarenaMacarena]

Friend is inheriting a property with equivalent value of debt attached to it. Her DF's former partner, having benefited for decades from the equity releases, is keen to stake her claim on some of the inheritance, which right now looks like zero.
Is it possible to reject an inheritance, bearing in mind it is a poison chalice, nothing but paperwork and stress with nothing left at the end with added pain of her dad's partner nagging for a payout.
I'd walk away!
Thanks for any information.

Do you mean she doesn’t want to do the job of probate?

I mean there will be nothing left, she is merely doing the admin for the banks and the government. Why do the work, deal with estate agents etc when there will be nothing left for her? I've heard of people rejecting inheritances and the money etc goes to the next person - must be more tempting when there is nothing but hassle.

Really? I wouldn’t walk away from it.

If there really would be nothing I’d walk away too. Don’t know how you go abo it it but why bother and stress for nothing

You are right, it could be zip in it for her. My Uncle did it several decades ago. By the time he died 5 years or so ago, there was literally nothing left. Cousin administered the estate but in reality if she had refused no one could have made her.
I assume the equity release company would do something to sort it out.

As I understand the the legal situation. You do not have to accept a legacy and nor can you be forced to act as an executor even if you are named as such in a will.

Of it's a maccarthy and stone flat I'd definitely walk away

How much do you know about:

• the specific situation?
• equity release?

Advise your friend to seek specialist advice from a solicitor. That's the advice a friend would be giving.