Stories of families falling out over a will or possessions

[whattheactualfuckery]

Not an AIBU, just looking to hear stories of either you or someone you know, who has fallen out with family members over a parents will. I'm going through this at the moment. It's bloody awful.

DM's dad, my GF, died and left his bungalow to her and her sister, with the proviso that his lady friend could "continue" to live there for as long as she liked. He didn't know that she actually had her own house as she'd never sold hers when she "moved in" with him. All the times she'd "gone to visit her son", sometimes for weeks on end, she was actually just going home for a bit. He thought he was providing a roof over her head but she was just playing him. Right after his funeral she told my mum and her sister that if they wanted the house they'd have to pay her a third of its value or she'd exercise her right to live their but neglect the house to dereliction.

They managed to negotiate her down to something more reasonable but she still managed to grab something she'd only been promised under her false pretences.

I don’t agree with the Scottish law. What if you’re nc with your dc for good reason?

My parents are forever telling me their estate is split 50/50 between me and my sibling. I’m executor. I keep telling them to spend as much as they can, I don’t need their money. They keep on about this a lot. I reminded them last time that they may need specialist care or to go into a home eventually, so I might not get a penny!

My DF died aged 54 leaving my DM a widow at 51. My dads elderly aunt (spinster) died a couple of years later leaving money to her nieces and nephews, with the stipulation that if any had pre-deceased her their share should go to their children.in the absence of my DF my brother and I therefore inherited around £6k each. My aunt (dad's sister) was furious that her DC (my cousins) had missed out on any money!

That's ridiculous though cptartapp. The whole idea is that your Aunt can pass her amount down to your cousins when the time comes

Visiting my parents once and they started talking about how sad they are that their 6 children are likely to end up fighting about inheritance (true, unfortunately). I told thrm I had no intention of getting involved and they can scrap it out between the five of them.

Next time mum and dad came to visit, they had a car boot full of my favourite bits and pieces to give me-none of it valuable but sentimental. I doubt the others have even noticed but they'd whinge themselves daft if they knew, no doubt.

The fact that although my cousins had missed out on a few thousand at the time but still had both their parents in their lives, bypassed her completely.

cptartapp the same happened when my GM died. My mum predeceased her so her share was split between my siblings and me. We were actually asked whether we would mind if my mums share was split between all GMs grandchildren. My two siblings fired off some pretty interesting replies.
The same family members pestered my DS for “promised” jewelry after my Mum died. Conveniently, DSis lost the key to her jewelry box! Mum had some nice pieces of jewelry and with several daughters had already indicated who was to have what. They were claiming she had promised them all the valuable items. It’s incrèadible what money does to people. The fact you have lost your parent in her prime suggests a total lack of empathy.
It really made me think about my own will and we have been very clear about how our estate is to be shared.

*DSis not DS

As for my MIL I wouldn’t know where to start. Suffice to say that due to her lack of financial acumen and total refusal to take advice her favourite son is likely to face a massive tax bill when she dies. It couldn’t happen to a nicer person.

Money brings out the worst in people.

I have an uncle and aunt who are Millionaires, no one else in our family has no where near as much and is never likely too bar a lottery win.

Bastards were round like vultures when my grandad was dying after his 10 year old car. My gran (the same grandads wife) has dementia now and they visit twice a year.

They have no children, good health, part time work. I have three DC, two with additional needs, my mam is recovering from cancer. All my grans care is split between me and my mam.

They have tried to find out off other family if I get paid for caring for her. I don't.

I've never hated anyone so much in my life and if they try the same trick with my gran I am going to lose my temper.

I'm not in the will and won't be as my gran doesn't have capacity to change it, I don't give a shite about any money and I look after my gran because it's the right thing to do.

My mother had one brother and we were all very very close - or so I thought. Both my parents died young and I inherited their house, not much when the mortgage was paid off but enough for a deposit on my house. Around the same time, my MGM developed dementia and my grandfather drew up a will. As his daughter had died, he split the money between me and my uncle.

It should be noted that my uncle is pretty bloody rich and the money he got was about 3 months earnings- for him. My uncle found the will and went absolutely ballistic. He accused me of stealing and all sorts. We have never spoken again. During probate, the solicitor had to make separate appointments so we didn't bump into each other. She said this wasn't uncommon.

I still can't get over it because to me, it appears that a happy family who already were suffering loss has just been blown apart. It's tainted all my childhood memories. He didn't even need the money

(At the same time, his wife's parents died and he found out their estate was not only split with his BiL but also an aunt. He told his solicitor this elderly aunt should only get the money that would have been the share of the estate when the will was made- over thirty years ago!. )

The a Scottish legal rights of inheritance for children only applies to the moveable estate not the heritable estate (land and property). I’m sure if you were nc with your children it would be relatively easy to minimise the amount of any inheritance, esp. when you take into consideration ‘prior’ rights which and spouse or civil partner is entitled to which come before any legal rights of inheritance.

The a Scottish legal rights of inheritance for children only applies to the moveable estate not the heritable estate (land and property).

I'm glad this has been clarified as previous posts may have given the wrong impression that children are entitled to inherit the entire estate.