Brother has found parents’ wills

[ChorltonCreamery]

My mother tripped over a few days ago. Initially all seemed fine. Friend brought her home but the next day she went to a walk in. It was felt that she might need a procedure on her wrist.

What I only found out yesterday was that Dad rang one of my brothers to go through his desk to find this policy they have, a medical insurance that kicks in if NHS waiting list is too long. In the process of doing this he found their wills and read them.

Yesterday Brother asked if I could go round to his but I couldn’t as we are away. This afternoon sister texts me to call her back, it turns our parents have divided their estate into four. Three quarters between brother, sister and me with a quarter going to other brother’s child(ren) with us three acting as trustees.

Brother 2 is not included, we think because sister in law has two children from previous marriage and there has been drama from them.

Brother wants me and sister to meet for a chat about everything.

He says that the wills were not in a marked file and he had to go through lots of stuff in order to find the insurance.

I don’t know what to think, or what I am meant to think. Sisters annoyed with brother for even telling us.

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They're not dead yet , so why is he even reading it ? Also it's their wishes so how can he do anything about it ?

It sounds like your parents have tried to come up with a solution they consider fair - whilst cutting out any potential influence from the SIL.

its not really anyone’s business, and ideally your brother wouldn’t have found it. The cat’s out of the bag now - but it’s only going to be a big deal if you three decide to share that you know.

to leave out one child is awful imo
and will damage relationships

So they’ve disinherited one of their 5DC, and allocated money for their existing grandchildren?

That’s all fine and dandy if no one has more dc, and may be open to being challenged by your disinherited brother.

You’re not meant to know!
Dont get involved. It’s their money they can do what they like with it.
It will cause bigger problems if you and your siblings get stuck in!!

It’s up to them how they leave their estate and at least they’re including your brother’s children, just cutting out the middle man

I think this is terrible and Brother 2 will be devastated. At the end of the day it is your parents' choice though. What is Brother 1 suggesting - that he tries to talk them out of it?

What is there to chat about?

4 siblings. 3 get a quarter each. Other quarter goes to final siblings kids.

What does he want to chat about? Does he want to persuade your parents to split the inheritance between all four of their children? It does seem unfair of them to leave one of your brothers out so that his step children don't benefit from any of the inheritance.

4 DC, two brothers, 2 sisters.

1 brother left out of will with his share of the inheritance going directly to his children instead, as the grandparents didn’t want anything going to his wife/stepchildren apparently.

That’s how I read it.

So brothers share is go directly to his biological kids, held in trust until they are of age?

They clearly have concerns. His kids benefit anyway. He might be grateful if things go south with SIL.

These are there wishes at the moment. Leave it be.

I think he is right to want a chat with you now. Whilst I would usually agree, their money, their business. They have made a contentious decision and roped you in by making you trustees.

If they wanted to cut your brother out, that’s one thing. But to directly include you all for the long haul for a situation that is likely to cause upset, with out addressing it before they have died is not on. They are creating an incredibly incendiary situation and leaving you all to deal with the fall out. Not on

So there are 4 of you? But although the will has been split into 4 shares, one share is to be split between the children of the oldest brother, and nothing for the younger brother?

Firstly, your parents aren't dead yet, so it's not an issue.

Secondly, it's up to your parents what they do with their money. Perhaps they feel brother 2 is able to take care of himself financially? Their money might get all eaten up in care home fees. Who knows...

It's an odd decision, that WILL cause problems, so I suggest you do meet with your brother and sister and discretely discuss it, but it's not going to be a problem until they BOTH die, which could be potentially decades away?? So not really much to discuss...

Has one brother been disinherited, or is it skipping to his kids?

This, if any of you think it's unfair then discuss it with your parents and brother fess up he found it, just because he found it doesn't mean he had to read it, are parents not leaving each other anything?

Don't say or do anything at this point. You're not meant to know and things can change. Definitely don't tell the brother who was left out. If there's already been drama then you won't be helping anyone by telling him.

I wouldn't be saying a word.

Has brother 2 been told?

Why did brother 1 even read it?

Your DB was asked to look for medical paperwork, that doesn't give him the right to read your DPs wills just because he found them. If he tells your DPs he read it they are not going to be happy and it's not your place to gang up on them. If you want to give some money to your DB2 when they die, that's your choice

No, the inheritance to go to the children of the brother left out.

It isn't fair and will damage relationships. Ultimately it's their money to do as they please, and, given they aren't dead yet and nobody was meant to know, I wouldn't get involved.

It shouldn't be a secret anyway but is because your parents know they're being unfair. Leaving one child out because they don't see eye to eye with his wife is pretty unfair.

I would. I’d let the parents deal with the fall out, rather than me and my siblings being left with it in the future.

Thos is how I read it. 4 siblings. There's bene drama with bro 2 (wife)sil and her bio children then surely sensible that they have left inheritance to bro 2 children instead