to ask how you work out whether your gut feeling about someone is right or wrong

[NancyFridayWrites]

Someone in my family is terminally ill. They aren’t rich but they do have assets but they are married and their spouse is alive and well. I have a bad feeling about one of my in laws who is paying attention to the situation and who has the ear of the spouse; they listen to what they say about finances. Even though this in law (and I’m not 100 per cent sure) is basically a chancer with four companies listed that they ‘own’ or are a director of on their linked in profile. I’ve kept quite and advised the spouse to take independent legal advice from non family members (so not asking myself my DH etc etc) but this spouse is so stressed by the situation I’m worried my in law is somehow taking advantage. I know I can’t do anything without causing trouble. Or? Has anyone been in the same situation and how did they deal with it without causing a family rift?

Would you and your husband be able to provide/pay for a consultation with a financial advisor for this spouse? You could offer this as a gift, saying you know how stressed they've been and you think that getting reliable, sound advice might lift some of that burden.

And as for potentially causing a family rift, sometimes you simply have to. Don't just stand by and let this vulnerable family member get steamrolled.

Aqua good idea. I’m too close to the situation to have thought of that!