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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not give anymore of my inheritance away and look after my own family?

278 replies

MamaByTheOcean · 21/04/2025 18:34

Sorry if this is a long one! Just wanting a bit of a sense check as I’m AuDHD and don’t always understand what is right to do in social situations.

I sadly lost my dad to cancer last year. I also lost my mum a few years ago suddenly and I don’t have any siblings so I have inherited all his estate and am currently dealing with things. He was quite silly with spending decisions after we lost my mum as he’d never really dealt with finances and definitely was undiagnosed on the spectrum so their decent estate dwindled a lot (about half of what he had when she died) even with me trying to help and guide him.

He always reassured me he’d leave me his small bungalow and campervan but decided to sell the camper for a lot under market value (about 40% of the £90k paid for it a year before) when he was poorly so I didn’t have to deal with it. He also decided in his last couple months to gift his 3 siblings £60k after originally deciding on £15k for all 3 previously.

Once I started sorting his finances I paid the siblings the £60k agreed and he had less than £1000 left in his accounts which just about covered the money due for the funeral on top of his funeral plan. His will officially just left everything to me but he had expressed some wishes to me to pay approx £15k to a few charities and friends from this money in his account but there isn’t enough left. My toddler who was my dads whole world wasn’t left anything officially in the will but I am intending on giving at least £20k of my money like he left each of his siblings which will go into their savings.

Im paying £250 a month for the utilities on the property whilst waiting for a sale to go through and had to pay for insurance etc on it which is a real struggle for me at the moment as I have my own house and nursery bills etc on a part time wage so I’m having to use some of the van money. Meanwhile my dad’s siblings have bought a brand new car and been on expensive holidays with the money they’ve got. Two of them have already spent all of it in the few months since he died.

once the house is sold I’ll be left with about £160k after all fees etc. I’m really reluctant to pay the charities as I want to make sure I have a safety net for my family with the money my dad wanted me to have but I feel so guilty not paying it as per his wishes.

On top of that my husband also suggested today to gift my dads siblings a few grand holiday to thank them for helping clear the house and clean it ready for sale which I feel is a bit of a joke when they’ve already spent the large chunk of money i already gave them whilst I’m struggling month to month at the minute. I was thinking of buying them a nice afternoon tea for them all but not thousands of pounds.

just not sure if I’m being unreasonable as I’m just trying to make sure I have a bit of security for my little family and my child especially.

OP posts:
FairKoala · 28/04/2025 21:06

Giselle12 · 28/04/2025 18:20

You already said it yourself. Your dad was not great with finances after your mom passed away. Now his will has instructions to give give give all this money in a way that may not be appropriate. Remember the estate after being split up is a portion yours, and a portion the siblings. Divide that out into the years you have remaining (just assume you'll live to 100). That's the annual gift your dad is giving.

You say the siblings spent their inheritance? That's their choice, but I would recommend not spending it faster then the annual allowance you're expected. If your dad was better with finances he may have turned it into a trust fund to slowly pay out inheritance over time and to generate income.

A large sum of money is often treated like winning the lottery, and stats say that people who win the lottery are often right back where they started (or even worse off) 1 year later. Take some responsibility and you will do well in the long run.

His will said no such thing. The siblings didn’t receive an inheritance they were given a gift. They were not in the will and neither was giving money to charities.

Giselle12 · 28/04/2025 22:48

Well then, if this is the case OP is blowing the money. Like I said, take the full amount and divide by the number of years you or your kids have left on this Earth. THAT's the rate OP can spend it.

FairKoala · 29/04/2025 05:53

Giselle12 · 28/04/2025 22:48

Well then, if this is the case OP is blowing the money. Like I said, take the full amount and divide by the number of years you or your kids have left on this Earth. THAT's the rate OP can spend it.

I don’t think op is in any position to talk about her father not being good with money when she has blown through £180k of her Inheritance and her fathers will hasn’t even been sorted yet.

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