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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Parents Bank Rolling Brother all his life. (48 Years Old) - Inheritance Q's

59 replies

Jaydubya · 20/09/2022 10:27

My parents have financially supported my brother his entire life. He is 48 years old. From the age of 7 he went to private school (I remained at state school). Their reasoning for this was that he was a male who would eventually be the bread winner for his family and would need a better education for this, whereas I was going to marry someone who would be the main breadwinner and would support me. He got expelled from private school just before his GCSE's but still got some average grades. He got into drink and drugs around this age and would con my parents into giving him money, saying he needed a car for job interviews, and money for cigarettes etc. If they refused, he said he would steal money from them or other peoples houses etc and if he got caught and put in prison, it would be on them for not providing him with what he wants. My mum has an issue with authorities as her childhood was in institutions, and she wanted to keep him out of prison.

His drug taking got worse throughout the following years and we lived in hell. Mum used to sleep with her purse under her pillow. He would come home in the small hours and put really loud techno music on and eat everything in the kitchen and then fall asleep at 3-4am with the music still blaring. If we challenged him about this he was violent and agressive and would smash things up and hit us.

I continued with my education, taking the first opportunity I had to leave home to go to Uni, got a degree and had a reasonably successful career, until I took a break to have children. I have been fully financially independent from my parents since I finished Uni and immediately started working. They give me birthday and Christmas presents but that is all.

My brother has never worked for long in a job (never more than a fews weeks). He has done some cash in hand work as a bouncer, furniture removal etc. Never had a career or trained for anything he rarely worked when he was younger and hasn't even attempted to work for the last 20 years after he got stabbed. They have paid for his accommodation, food, clothes, car (buying, insurances, servicing, repairs, parking tickets etc). He moved into Council accommodation for some years and receive benefits (topped up by M&D) but just before lock down, he moved back in with M&D and they are still fully supporting him.

He has taken over the entire house and dominates them. Their house was always lovely and tidy and clean, and now its a state, full of his clutter and dirty. When I visit, they are constantly saying don't touch that its your brothers, or that food is his, he'll go mad if you touch it. He also emotionally bullies them and punishes them if do something he doesn't like by not talking to them for days on end, and being agressive towards them. He is now an alcoholic - he gets up about 4pm and goes to bed about 4am. He moved in with them again, under the pretence of helping them with their old age, but he doesn't do much to help them (occasionally cuts the grass - that is it).

My mother had a stroke 7 years ago and my dad is her carer and although she is wheelchair bound they don't have any outside help. They are both 80 and its got impossible for my dad to cope with this anymore. I am powerless to do anything. My mum won't challenge my brother and if my dad and I raise objections to his behaviour she gets upset and it causes a family argument.

I tolerate my brother, but I do not like him and avoid him if I can. I do not have any power to interfere with their lives and I rarely visit due to my brother but we speak a lot on the phone. Recently my parents have been talking about their will and how they will split their assets 50/50 between my brother and I.

AIBU to feel that after all these years of them supporting him that there is an argument for me to suggest that he has had some of his inheritance already? Especially as I know the money he gets from inheritance will be going on drink and drugs. Any inheritance we receive (if I'm to receive my part) will require selling the house that my parents and brother live in. Advice please?

OP posts:
Rowthatboat · 20/09/2022 15:31

I was in a very similar situation with my parents and sister. As you will know as someone who lives this situation, it really isn't as simple as call social services and report elder abuse. Like other forms of DV your parents would have to admit that there is a problem for anything to be done about it. If they are unwilling to agree that they are being treated badly then reporting it will just unite them against you for interfering.

On your question about inheritance, after my parents died (and left a will with sister and I as joint executors to inherit 50% each) my solicitor told me my sister could make a claim for a greater amount because as she was fully supported by them she needed a greater share of the inheritance to live after their death. I would need less because I am self sufficient and hadn't been given money in their lifetime. (It turns out hard work really doesn't pay!). My (not so D)S was in a much stronger legal position throughout probate because she lived in the house. She made it impossible for me to enter the house and access any sentimental items or any legal/banking documents including the will! Each step was a battle. A lot of money went on legal fees and eventually I had to settle a legal case and pay a small amount of money to force her to leave the house. It was worth it.

If I could go back in time to talk to my parents about their wills I would ask to be made sole executor and have sole power of attorney, had that been required. It would have made everything a lot quicker and easier and I would have got closer to the 50% of the estate I'd been left. However, my parents would never have allowed that, because no matter how capable I proved myself to be they always favoured my sister and were also frightened of her. I fear you are in a similar situation - I'm sorry because it's a really hard place to be.

Zebedee55 · 20/09/2022 15:32

It sounds as though your brother is abusing them, so I'd get Social Services involved. That should be your prime worry.

Regardless of the past, at least contact Social Services.

As for their money, they are entitled to leave it to who they like, fair or not.

However, it does sound as though one/both of them will need care soon, in which case the government will probably have first call.

Never count on an inheritance chicken before it's hatched.

WaveyHair · 20/09/2022 15:35

Your parents are traditional (like mine) and truly believe boys do all the hard brain work and the fun stuff whereas girls are supposed to sit around with their mouths shut & look pretty. Boys will always be forgiven by their mothers for misdemeanours.

So I understand what you think 50:50 is unfair but tbh it could be worse.

Agree with the suggestion social services should be made aware of the situation.

PerfectlyPreservedQuagaarWarrior · 20/09/2022 15:38

Agree this may well be a care fees situation soon, in which case the inheritance issue is moot.

Newgirls · 20/09/2022 15:43

I get you. I think a part of you thinks the money will repair the many unfairnesses you have experienced. But it won’t.

well done for creating your own successful life. You are the only ‘winner’ in all this. Therapy might help you process their sorry mess.

JenJones5 · 20/09/2022 15:51

Motnight · 20/09/2022 15:14

But that doesn't change the situation that her parents are being abused.

So what, though? They’ve treated her like shit based, it seems, on hold old-fashioned misogyny. Sometimes what goes around comes around; it’s not worth losing sleep over it when it happens.

Porcupineintherough · 20/09/2022 15:58

It's not so easy to stop your parents being abused by one of their offspring if they cover and connive with them.

Cost us 7k and two years of stress and lost sleep to stop my brother abusing my demented father. Social services were useless. And if my brother had been a wee bit clever about it we might never have managed it.

Unless your parents specifically ask for your help OP I'd stay well out of it and be satisfied with 50% of any inheritance (there may be none). Be aware that your brother having always been supported by your parents, almost certainly has a claim on their estate.

LetHimHaveIt · 20/09/2022 16:00

'I dislike it when parents don't split inheritances equally, it's basically telling one child they weren't loved as much as the other.'

And what message is sent by heavily favouring one child both emotionally and financially, during your life?

I feel for you, OP. But there's nothing you can do and I suspect PPs are correct and that he will burn through his in no time.

TwoBlondes · 20/09/2022 19:13

Going through a similar situation at the moment. If you feel comfortable broaching the subject, could you ask your parents to have a clause in their will specifying how long he's allowed to stay. A family member is refusing to leave the house or cooperate with selling it and should apparently be paying market rate rent to the estate. It's all very messy because the will wasn't specific

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