Inheritance and OH

[WillIam2025]

My OH and his brother are due to inherit some land from an elderly relative, the relative has left it up to my OH and his brother how they want to divide it up, my OH and his brother have still not came to a decision 18 months later, I haven't got involved as it is his family's business, but today I did ask him, and he said there is no decision made as they've had others things to do. AIBU to think they should have come to a conclusion by now?

Well they’re not received it yet so I can’t see why it’s an issue really. How long is it until they receive it? Why aren’t they just splitting it equally?

Why wouldn't they just do 50/50?

It will be divided 50/50, but it's in different lots, the relative is still alive, but he wants them to decide and tell him.

Are you expecting the relative to die really soon? Does it even need to be decided before his death? I think YABU

Well they’ll sell it, keep it, or rent it out if thats possible

His in his 90s, but not expecting it any time soon, but his will will need changing with what they decide.

It's an odd request but the brothers have to come up with something if the old man doesn't feel able to make the decision himself. Why is it so difficult? Do they not get on, or is the land complicated in some way? If they really can't decide, I suggest they ask someone they trust to divide it into two sections and toss a coin to see who gets which.

The land is in lots on either side of river, so a bit complicated as not in whole sections. The relative wants them both to be happy with their inheritance so is leaving it up to them to work it out and decide.

The relative can just put in his will that the land is to be left to the brothers, in equal amounts. Then they can decide once they actually own the land what they want to do with it.

It's very rude and ungracious of them to behave like this when a man in his 90s wants to leave them a gift and wants it sorted before he dies. They are being very selfish.

What is their plan to do with it ? Why don’t they get it valued then they can just take 50/50 of the sale price .
Surely they need to decide what they want it for so they can choose the best parts for whatever suits their plan?

Then I suggest that they as a family engage with a specialist rural surveyor so that they know what they are looking at.

It would be useful to know the exact area, quality of the land, suitability for work, cost of improvements, council future planning, possible development and valuation.

Then the brothers need to think about what they want to do with their future.

I can see Relative’s point in not wanting to cause ructions after his death and commend him for looking to be organised now.

OH would like to use his half for a new business venture, that is why I feel it needs to be agreed who has what.

Wise advice from Sandgroper. If they can’t decide themselves they need to engage a neutral party and stop wasting time. It’s unfair to the relative.

Just leave them to it.....or not to it as the case may be.

How ungracious of the brothers to not give their elderly family member the peace of having his affairs sorted. Agree that suggesting his will states "To be divided equally" makes sense.

I think because my OH wants to use the land for business purposes, it should be sorted out as soon as possible. And yes as their relative wishes, and because they are both very privileged to inherit they should get it sorted promptly.