About Inheritance

[Sunshinelollipops1]

4 siblings A, B, C and D. 3 eldest are in their 50s. Youngest was “a happy accident” and is in 30s.

After D was born the Mum of the family developed serious illness and A who had just finished university came Home and basically brought up A and looked after Mum while the Dad worked. A has spent her entire life as Carer for Mum who died 5 years ago. A couple of years after this Dad became ill. A cared for him and he has now died.

Only real asset is House. Worth about 500k. Will says divide by 4.

B and C have good jobs (probably 50-60k per annum), houses and families. C has a huge mortgage as they have pulled out equity to fund holidays, cars etc. Both have kids in their 20s.

D is a professional and earns 150k. Married and young children.

2 bed flat in area of House will cost 350k (SE). D says A should get enough of will to buy flat and rest can be split between 3. (This means B, C and D will get about 40k each rather then 125k).

B says while he would like to do that he needs to help his kids on property ladder and that 40k won’t be sufficient (3 kids).

C says the will is clear and should be shared equally. He also adds D is only suggesting this as they will end up sole beneficiary of As will (A and D being incredibly close).

D has offered to give B and C their proportion of money so they would get 60k each. Both have said no.

A doesn’t want anyone to fall out, says the money should be shared in 4 and says it’s fine, they’ll find work and use the equity as rent (they won’t get mortgage).

D thinks B and C are being selfish. C thinks D is (and ultimately doing this to get all the money).

Who is AIBU and what should be done?

If there is a will that says split into 4 then that is what should happen. If there is no will then it should still happen. The recipients personal situations shouldn't come into it at all.

It would be nice if the family allowed A to buy a house and reduced their share. But they don’t have to. If C and D so that’s great. But B can do what they like, the Will reads as it does.

They should do as the will says. If D wants to give A their share, they are free to do so.

If the will says it should be shared 4 ways then that is what should be done as per the deceased wishes. If the other siblings want to give some of their share to A to help her get on the property ladder then that is up to them. maybe D being an exceptionally high earner and standing to inherit from A ( although that could never happen ) then he could help more ? I appreciate it's not an easy situation and I really feel for A who has cared for everyone and now stands to lose her home.

Split equally. Those who want to do something else with their own money can then do so. The will is clear.

I think the will was unreasonable and should have distributed the proceeds as D suggested.

However, as it didn’t then B&C are within their rights to insist on their full inheritance. If I was A or D I wouldn’t be speaking to them again, though, assuming that B or C aren’t in desperate need of the cash themselves (and wanting to help children on the property ladder doesn’t count).

If D is happy with not getting an inheritance, could they pass theirs to A? And / or afford to help A out with a small mortgage for the rest?

Difficult to vote as I'm not sure which one you are. If will says split 4 ways then it should be split 4 ways.

Why doesn’t D give A the money they’d have given B&C? I think the will should be as written.

Should be shared equally. Then if D wants to help A out with more money they can. I don't think B and C are being selfish at all and I say that as someone who is unable to buy a house

That would pretty much describe the situation in my family. However -

Will says divide by 4.

So the inheritance must be divided equally by four. What each sibling then chooses to do with their share is up to them, e.g. If D decides to help A find somewhere to live.

It would be a kindness if siblings B, C and D could agree to let A stay in the family home for a period of time as this is A's home too but it doesn't sound as though B or C would agree to this. c especially is motivated by money and sounds quite selfish.

A could look at shared ownership if they want to own a property and then either get benefits or work to pay the rent. If D is concerned about helping they could give their share. I do find it sad that A has not been left enough in the will to buy a property after giving up their own life to be a cater for the parents. And if it was really about helping kids on the property ladder I would have expected 60k to be enough help at 20k each. But sadly the will left it split four ways so the siblings are legally in the right to insist it is spent that way.

Stick to the will then any sibling who wishes to give A a share of their inheritance is free to do so.

Split inheritance equally to save arguments with b&c, then d gives a the money they were going to give b & c to make up their shares. Then a moves area and gets a cheaper flat.

Split equally, as that’s what the will says. If any of the siblings want to give some of their share to A then that’s their choice, but D is wrong to try and force them

The will should be followed, its not up to anyone to dictate otherwise, the wishes of your parents should be followed.

D is welcome to give A his own money, he shouldn't be trying to force others too, its not his to be generous with.

I don’t think the wishes of anyone really comes into it.

There is a legal document in existence to say what should be done and that needs to be followed.

I don’t think the voting thing actually works as if didn’t say who I am asking was unreasonable - sorry!

Interesting nearly everyone saying morally (legally is another issue) that will should be followed.

A should send an invoice to B & C for looking after the parents with (apparently) no input from them...

Sadly it will have to be split 4 ways, A & D should probably go nc with the others

Dont really know how to vote.

The money should split equally. If D wants to give their whole share to A, they can.

A has done alot for their parents. But in fairness they chose to do this, knowing they were limiting their own earning potential.

A should get more, the parents should have recognised that. Shame her siblings don't.

There is only one answer. Follow the will.
If the beneficiaries then want to gift their shares, fine.
But first the will should be respected.

2 bed flat in area of House will cost 350k (SE)

Then A needs to buy somewhere else.

The will is to be split 4 ways. That's how it is. No matter what anyone else thinks is fair.

People have sometimes to compromise. Trying to cling to an area which they can't afford is not realistic.

Just follow the will. When the money is split people can gift whatever they want to family. To suggest what others should do with their split is wrong.
Morally and legally this is the only thing to do.

it’s hard isn’t it?
A gave up their earning potential although wasn’t obligated to do so, but in return lived rent free in a large family home.
B and C effectively had their inheritance saved by As actions as they didn’t have to pay for care homes.

But ultimately the parents made the decision to split the will 4 ways and that’s what they wanted. That’s how it should be done.

D can give her share to A and D could move to a cheaper area and get some form of employment.

Follow the will, divide by 4