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AIBU?

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Original poster

Slightly odd dog inheritance question

29 replies

Fortheloveofdogs2 · 07/12/2023 21:04

This is a very long story short

DH has a slightly wacky aunt that has recently died. Prior to her death she was big in the dog world, and if I'm honest an animal horder. Eventually this whittled down to 2 and she moved into a supported accomodation. She took one with her which she could manage, and the other came to us. Later the second came to us also.

To lessen the blow about her losing her beloved dog, we treated it like a Foster situation, taking the dog to visit regularly, sending photos and letting her feel in control of things like vet visits. We've had the dog for 5 years now, the second dog has now died

It's not been easy as the dog was poorly socialised, the older dog was incontinent etc but in general we are dog people and it felt like the right thing to do

Subsequently we have discovered she's left a significant amount of money to the dog. Our understanding was that she was going to do this via a trust set up with money specifically for the dog.

Anyway another family member who is the executor been complaining. We aren't clear if this is because the trust is in excess of what the dog will need and thus the trust may go to us post dog or she might have left it directly to us

This has caused a family rift as we happened to take the dog (believe me no one was fighting us for it!). Others feel like if they didn't have the opportunity to, or were in rented accommodation so didn't have the option of doing the thing that has lead to more money

There are some other cousins who provided a significant amount of personal care at one point, am aunt who did lots of organising etc who we would probably redistribute some money to. However this leaves DH's siblings out and many cousins.

Would you just keep the money? Equally dish it out? Or share it with the specific relatives who provided her with support?

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 07/12/2023 21:06

I would keep it, but is it legal to make a dog the beneficiary, that's wild

ComtesseDeSpair · 07/12/2023 21:07

It would depend on the wording of the trust. The money wouldn’t necessarily go to you even after the dog’s death, unless provision had been made for this. There’s not much point speculating on what you should do with the money until you know whether there’s a trust and what it states should happen when the dog is alive and afterwards.

HermioneWeasley · 07/12/2023 21:08

I’d distribute some of it to people who helped the aunt but otherwise no, they didn’t do anything for her or her beloved pets and it sounds like you’ve really put yourself out

Santaiswashinghissleigh · 07/12/2023 21:08

Keep some for ddogs keep and potential vet bills. Give some to charity if you don't want to keep it for personal spends... The family are grabby buggars...

Savedpassword · 07/12/2023 21:08

It depends on the size of the inheritance surely?

saraclara · 07/12/2023 21:12

I'd certainly keep however much it's cost you to keep the dogs (food, vets bills etc) but if the inheritance is massively more than that, I'd not feel comfortable keeping it all.

highandwindymoors · 07/12/2023 21:13

I would honour her wishes. She loved the dogs, and you took on the dogs and cared for them despire their issues, and whatever the terms of the inheritance turn out to be that was her intention and should be respected.

Favouritefruits · 07/12/2023 21:14

Keep the money and go on a nice holiday that the dog can go on to, you’ve been feeding and looking after the dog so the money is there for that. Don’t let anyone guilt you into anything!!!

Haydenn · 07/12/2023 21:14

Doggymummar · 07/12/2023 21:06

I would keep it, but is it legal to make a dog the beneficiary, that's wild

My whole estate is left in trust to provide for my dogs and keep them on a certain quality of food, pay for medical treatment etc. Once my dogs pass it then goes to a charity so none of the executors have any incentive to scrimp on their care.

HedonistHuntress · 07/12/2023 21:16

Haydenn · 07/12/2023 21:14

My whole estate is left in trust to provide for my dogs and keep them on a certain quality of food, pay for medical treatment etc. Once my dogs pass it then goes to a charity so none of the executors have any incentive to scrimp on their care.

Show quote history

I kind of love this! Am assuming obviously that you don’t have three kids under five as well but I love it!

Tebheag · 07/12/2023 21:17

Sure there was a case where a large fortune was left to the dog with the staff to look after the dog. Upon death the money ws to go to charity. They just kept breeding the dog to keep the money. Sounds like people are only interested in the dog now it's been left money.

Haydenn · 07/12/2023 21:18

HedonistHuntress · 07/12/2023 21:16

I kind of love this! Am assuming obviously that you don’t have three kids under five as well but I love it!

Show quote history

No 😂 I TTC for a long time. Now it’s just me and the dogs.

RoseAndRose · 07/12/2023 21:19

You need to find out who the trustees are

And keep a log of all the dog related spending from the date of her death onwards, so the trustees can be assured the money is being properly spent in accordance with the purposes of the trust.

And then if there is money left over after Fido has died, it will be up to the trustees to work out how it is distributed - and I hope she expressed her wishes for that (distribute to the family, or all go to Battersea or similar)

boomtickhouse · 07/12/2023 21:23

Was she paying you to care for the dog while she was alive? Or is there "back pay" in the inheritance?

Either way it actually doesn't matter - take the money and use it things vaguely dog related. I hear it would love a week in a coastal cottage for example.

Minglemangle007 · 07/12/2023 21:23

Has she had the will drawn up properly or just done a home made will and left her money to Rex? Dogs cannot inherit but money can be left in trust and no you can't just dole that to other people as you see fit.

I was under the impression that money just left to the animal can just end up going back into the pot so to speak. You need to have a conversation with her!

JSMill · 07/12/2023 21:25

Hold onto it. You don't know what vet's bills may come your way and the lady clearly wanted to make sure her dogs were taken care of for life.

ChateauDuMont · 07/12/2023 21:26

What does the dog think?

KTheGrey · 07/12/2023 21:43

The executor just does what the will says. If the terms of the will are vague, I guess it's their job to clarify the legal situation. If it hasn't been left in trust would the executor set one up?

You definitely need to establish whether the trust has been set up and whether the money left over goes to you.

mintbiscuit · 07/12/2023 21:48

ChateauDuMont · 07/12/2023 21:26

What does the dog think?

😂😂😂

wildwestpioneer · 08/12/2023 06:43

I'd keep the money safe, use it to feed, medical expenses (whatever the dog needs tbh), then donate the rest to a dog charity when she/he dies.

I bet it's amazing how many dog lovers you have in the family now!

jay55 · 08/12/2023 06:47

Keep it, you've already had loads of time looking after the other dog too.

Can you get a copy of the will to understand exactly what she's done?

RendeersDancingTowardsChristmas · 08/12/2023 07:24

This depends on so many things, especially how tight the will is. Best to get legal advice.

But if the money comes your way I'd use it to look after the dog & share some out with the people who helped looking after your aunt if there isn't any provision for them.

It's easy to say: "I would have if I could have" after the event when a financial incentive comes to light. So sod them!

SkaneTos · 08/12/2023 07:59

@Minglemangle007
If by having a conversation with her, you mean having a conversation with the aunt who owned the dogs, I think that aunt is dead.

OP wrote "DH has a slightly wacky aunt that has recently died".

SkaneTos · 08/12/2023 08:03

OP. I don't know anything about the legal aspects of the inheritance situation, but I think you and your DH did a lovely thing for his aunt, and she was probably very appreciative! The dogs obviously meant a lot to her, and you cared for them with love.
The other relatives had their chance to step up and care for the dogs, and they did not take it.

SwishSwashSwooshSwersh · 08/12/2023 08:08

Get a copy of the Will online so you have the facts in front of you