The death of a loved one can be devastating, but wills can be the source of family destruction.
One man is facing this potential reality after the death of his remaining parent, who split the inheritance equally between two siblings – an amount just shy of $1million (approximately £794,407).
The living, familial and financial situations of the brother and sister in question are vastly different: the brother is gay, and lives with his partner to whom he isn’t married. On the other hand, his sister is married and has three kids – but this has led her to believe she’s entitled to more than her fair share of the dividends.
‘Our parents were very clear in their will that our inheritance and all property are split evenly between the two of us. It’s to the tune of around $1 million’, the brother shared in a Reddit post.
‘Here’s where the problems start. I’m gay, I live with my partner who I’m not married to across the country from the rest of my family.
‘My sister and her husband have 3 small kids under 11. My sister said that since it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever have kids and because I live a comfortable life, that I should take at least a quarter of my inheritance money and open bank accounts for her kids.
‘Instead of using her own money to do that, she wants to buy a McMansion to get out of their smaller cramped house. Basically implying that her and her family need the money more than I do since they’re married with kids and I’m not.
‘She thinks my parents were unfair when they created the will and that I should “do the right thing” to make up for their mistake.
‘I’m worried that eventually she’ll cut me off and won’t let me have a relationship with the kids anymore. Part of me thinks maybe they do need the money more than me.’
Meanwhile, the extended family is split on the issue. The brother-in-law is, of course, taking his wife’s side and believes the anonymous poster is being ‘greedy’ and uncaring for his niece and nephews’ futures.
Elsewhere, the aunts, uncles and cousins all have differing opinions, but some from the ‘more homophobic side’ of the family are slamming him as a ‘greedy a**hole.’
Naturally, the comment thread was inundated with sympathy.
‘Your parents decided to split their estate evenly. What you and your sister decide to do with your halves is completely up to you’, one understanding reader commented.
‘Your sister absolutely does NOT get to decide how you spend your half of the inheritance. It’s up to you. Money doesn’t have to be used to further future generations, and you aren’t less deserving of the money because you do not (yet) have children’, another added.
‘Your sister made her life choices: not your responsibility to give her more than her share’, chimed another.
‘She can invest some of HER share to make sure her kids have a good start in life.’
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