What happens if you don't want something you are bequeathed?

[nibdedibble]

Asking because a relative of dh's died recently. She once told me her father had left her a house, but she didn't want it, so she just never claimed it.

It got me thinking about when my mother dies: she has said she will leave me all sorts of shit, which I don't want to be lumbered with. (There's a history...) What should I do when the time comes? I feel sure it's not as easy as saying "Nah, I don't want it, thanks."

Any advice gratefully received!!

If you don't want something that has been left to you in a will your options are:

• give it to someone else. That may have tax consequences so may not be the best option.
• disclaim the things you don't want. What happens to the bequest if you disclaim it is determined by the will.
• apply for a variation. This would allow you to determine what happens with the bequest.

You may anticipate items will be bequeathered to you in your DMs will, however you have no way of knowing this will actually happen. She can change her Will at any stage, so what you believe is the situation today, won't necessarily be the case tomorrow.

If, when the inevitable happens, your DM passes away and you are left those items, which you have no interest in keeping, I would consider selling them and passing the money to charity/s of your choice. The items are legally yours at that point. There are so many worthy causes. It will be a healing process to know the benefit of that money will go somewhere to help someone.

Depends on the inconvenience of it. Jewellery , take to one of those 2nd hand selling shops, give the money to charity.
General tat ( if reasonable condition) charity shop
Or as others have said, refuse.

My mother was very keen for me to have a Chesterfield sofa that had been in the family for years. It wasn't in the will though, just one of many items of furniture. I just used to say "oh, lovely! Thanks". When she died it went to auction along with most other stuff. It was the world's most uncomfortable sofa! I didn't feel guilty.
Once you have been bequeathed something, and its in your posession, it's yours to do with what you want -sell, keep, give away. Up to you. Be kind to the person bequeathing it though, they will never know what happens to it in the end.
Don't be like a friend, who, out of duty, has kept all the stuff left to her over the years, because she feels that was what the deceased wanted. She now has 4 Welsh dressers in a small house...

Thanks all. I was actually thinking of the sort of situation where someone has gone nc with the deceased person and it would be traumatic to accept their bequest.

I'm recently nc with my mum and I truly do not want anything from her. It gives me some stress to think about it - I know this is not really reasonable because of course she can change her will etc. But what do I do when she dies...I want to refuse to accept any bequest.

Oh, I see. Would you be the only beneficiary? You don't have to have things you don't want. If there would be other beneficiaries the items could be offered to them. But, in your position, I think I would say to the executor that you don't want anything, and why, and could they arrange the sale of the items and the money given to charity or similar.
Would that be a solution?

I don't know the answer but wonder if the executor would be able to help? E.g. if it's jewellery, could they sell it as part of the estate, after you refuse it?

You can just refuse the inheritance. It goes back to the estate and the executor passes it to the next person in line.

Thanks. That actually makes me feel quite a bit better!