Have you ever unexpectedly inherited anything?

[lepe]

I haven't, minus a set of books from an old neighbour who I used to drop in for a cup of tea with.

A good friend of mine has just inherited a property portfolio from his grandfather. He had no idea he owned any other houses other than his own home. So it came as a big shock. The grandfather gave them to his first born grandson (son's son) rather than any other grandchildren. Friend knew his grandparents were comfortably off, but had no idea they owned £1mil+ in workers cottages.

A Cuckoo clock !

Father's Uncle had died, and father's aunt knew I had always liked it when we all went to visit their house.

I never received it tho, as my parents turned it down on my behalf.

Many years later I bought my own whilst on holiday in Slovenia. I realised within a week of bringing it home why my parents had turned it down - it echoed throughout my home at 2 am 3 am 4 am etc.

She clearly invested her money very well. And didn’t spend any. I wish she had spent some to have made her last few years more comfortable. And had I known she had a fraction of what she left, I’d have had her out of hospital and home with 24 hour nursing for her last few weeks.

Can I ask why not?

I think it was his way to say sorry but i didnt accept it.
I'd rather be dirt poor and live on my housing estate.

Why on earth did she stay with that idle husband? And how could she take care of her business if she was caring for someone?

My Dad is,similar he doesn't have anything like a,million to leave but they had a big house and around £60,000 in savings it fruatrates me he won't spend any to make is life easier he looks after my elderly disabled mum and could install a wet room etc to make life a it easier but won't be cause it coats money he's nearly 82_so I don't know why he's saving it!

Pecuniary just means money.

A very run down riding school, as a going concern, from a batty maiden aunt. I had to leave the high flying corporate career that was making me ill to take over the blasted business. My aunt wrote into the will that I had to move in and make a go of it for at least a year, or it would be sold and the proceeds would go to an animal charity, so initially I planned to make minimal effort for the minimum amount of time then sell to developers and get out. Over time, I fell in love with the scruffy, rag tag, bunch of ponies, I couldn't help myself. My aunt knew that deep down I always regretted not turning my childhood love of horses into a career. It was lonely at the start, then the handsome, but slightly gruff farrier started finding excuses to pop in more than necessary. We did get off on the wrong foot thanks some silly misunderstandings that we were both too proud and stubborn to resolve! Thank goodness he came to the rescue one night when my beloved Thunder was struck down by colic; as the storm that prevented the vet from attending cleared and the sun came up, we fell into each others arms, exhausted and relieved and I knew I wouldn't be selling to the evil developers after all.

Probably an attempt at romance from someone associated with the evil developers as well along the line somewhere.

I have been looking for a book like this for many years, if it exists, please let me know!

A friend was contacted by inheritance hunters twice. Both good sums of money. It's made their retirement much better financially.

Sounds vaguely familiar - I probably read it in my teens!

(along with Jill's Gymkhana, My Friend Flicka, Misty of Chincoteague etc etc)

I inherited my late grandmothers singer sewing machine that I cherish and a large tub of vintage Lego that me and my siblings used to play with as a child. My children love to play with it now.

I was left (unexpectedly) £5000 by a client I worked for, she used to see me professionally a lot and sadly died of cancer, so knew her days were numbered. She had told me she was leaving me something but I expected something like an ornament. It paid for a much nicer holiday that year than we would otherwise have had.

My distant cousin died a couple of years ago and left me her family history research as she knew I was interested. It’s been invaluable in my family tree following. She also left my DD a silver bracelet that had belonged to her sister, who sadly died very young but was best friends with my Dd Grandma. Which was lovely.

Anything by Jenny Colgan - although it's usually cafés or sweetshops as opposed to riding schools. But the formula is the same 😊

I was waiting for this story to appear on this thread re: Bamber Gascoigne 🙂. BBC Ghosts fans will be very familiar with this beautiful location. He wasn’t expecting to inherit this property, but what a shock it must have been!

Not much but somebody I knew. She was American, in America and married this bloke from Africa, back in the 1980s. She didn't know him and was paid a small sum to do this immigration marriage. It was back in the day when you could just marry them, give them the marriage certificate, then never see them again.

Anyway, she forgot all about him, got on with her life, but never got round to a divorce. She couldn't have even told you his name. Years later a lawyer tracked her down. He'd died without a will and she was nok. She inherited about $200,000 from him in the late 90s.

Yes. I got a letter a few years ago from a solicitor saying that a very distant relative had died and I was to receive £45 from his will. It was a lovely letter and they had obviously gone to great lengths to trace distant family. I do not know who the man was as it was so far down the line, however I did go and light a candle for him at the local church.

I inherited high blood pressure, arthritis and gout.

Oh and crumbling teeth (mum's side).

You never know.
Perhaps this one grandson cared for his GF in his old age/illness. Put spending time with him before going to see their mates. Went to cut his lawn when he was struggling. While the others ‘lived their lives’.
That is certainly how it was in my family when my beloved gran died. I was the only one (with my mum) who did any of the hard graft for her.
For the record no she didn’t favour me in her will. She offloaded her jewelry on my while she was alive (purely as she knew I wouldn’t flog it) and left me something far more valuable than money - the memories, values and time spent with her.

Sounds like my DHs parents. They are still alive, but they are FRUGAL. We (and all their kids) were shocked to
learn that they plan to leave them all an inheritance. DH said they never did anything fun growing up… never went anywhere, it was always work.

I’ve been saving for a set which is around $1500! 😭😂

She loves him- they have been together since school.

Her niece works in the salon and ran it for the time it was 24 hour care.

@determinedtomakethiswork yes, I know (now!), but back then I simply believed what I'd been told, so was nicely surprised to receive a cheque for a bit more than pennies!

i knew this would be a book or film plot line! The closest I can suggest is 'A merry Christmas wish' 2022 film 🤣

Apparently Ben Fogle got his start in adult life through a random inheritance ?

My gran was left the house of her aunt. The aunt had no children and she was always with my gran. The other aunts and uncles were furious that they hadn't got a share but were never around. My gran did all her shopping, cleaning, taking her to appointments, had her round for Christmassy and any other celebration. The rest of the family had never bothered.
It was life changing money and some beautiful things. Gran and Grandad bought a fancy retirement flat in the centre of town and went on a few cruises.
I, in turn inherited from my gran.
I'm currently wearing the aunt's engagement ring and my gran's ruby necklace that Granda bought her after the inheritance had come through.