Quote From: lynlovel first, let me say that i'm so sorry for what you and your brother and sister had to face as children. thank goodness, your grandfather was wise enough to express his appreciation of his grandkids and that you became a more caring, sensitive person, as a result of all that, instead of a bitter one, as some people would have.
it is so sad when family members turn agains each other because of money and things. but the reality is that often they do. even people who have no intention of doing so may find themselves in the middle of such battles because of the behavior of others. so yes, i agree, it is important to get things settled before parents die. in fact, the parents really need to make out clear wills that state how they want their money and property to be divided, and in some cases, why they made these decisions. (giving reasons can make it harder for dissatisfied heirs to hold up a will in court.)
i also thin it's sad --and maybe a little pathetic -- when some family members act as if they have as much or more right to a brother or sister's money/property than his/her own children do. this may be due as much to ignorance as to greed. in most states, as far as i know, spouses, kids, even parents come before siblings as far as inheritance "rights," unless, perhaps, it is statd otherwise in the person's will. brothers and sisters are NOT "next of kin" if these other types of relatives are living.
of course, it's not clear whether the grandparents above left their house, etc to the daughter who lived there or what -- more proof that people need to deal with these issues before they die. you cannnot leave it up to ur offspring and hope they will figure it all out fairly, especially not when they are already fighting and pointing fingers.
I was so glad to see this post. It helps to know that I am not the only one going through this. My situation is this:
The lady that helped to raise me passed away in Feb. She had a Power Of Attorney. Which was a very good thing. She use to have my husband as POA but she said that she knew he could not handle her oldest daughter when the time came. I have to give it to her, as she was correct. He oldest daughter treated her terribly. "J" would go to the nursing home to visit her sister and would not go down the hall to visit with her own mother. She even referred to her by her first name instead of "MOM". She voiced to me that she hoped that her mother died a long, slow, painful death!! It hurt me so badly. Now since my "Meemaw" has passed away, "J" wanted all of the family photo albums, which Meemaw told me not to let her have,,,,but nothing was put in writing....so I had no choice! "J" had no idea what was in the house, as she had only been there about twice in the 30 years that my Meemaw lived there. Now "J" has come up with all sorts of "things" that she wants. Says she left nic nacs back in 1967 etc. Meemaw has moved 3 times into different houses since then. "J" says there if "furniture" missing. (She keeps calling me...I ended getting caller ID)
My Meemaw was not a rich lady and she scrimped and tried to take care of herself, her other daughter, and "J"s son that she walked out on when he was only 3. So, Meemaw didn't have much furniture or anything of value.
One day in the nursing home Meemaw told me that she knew she had all those children, but she felt like "I" was the only one to stand by her. That really hurt me for her. As I knew she wanted things to be different and she just wanted their "love'.
They came to the house at the end of the Probate and took out garbage bags of their sisters' stuffed animals etc. The things that I thought they would "want", they didn't take. I cannot figure out these older children.....ages 65, 64, 57, 56!!
I had so much more than they will ever have now....I had time quality with Meemaw and I had her love. She was such a good Chrisitan woman!!!!!
Sorry, I didn't mean to babble.....but it goes on and on!!!!
(Original Air Date: 11/13/07) Has an inheritance that seemed at first like a stroke of good fortune become a dividing force in your family? Meet four sisters bitterly fighting over their aunt’s inheritance. Virginia's original will divided her estate four ways: Pat, Linda and Barbara would each receive $10,000 and Carol, the youngest, would get the remainder of the trust -- approximately $400,000. But the inheritance was split six ways to include Linda’s two kids after Aunt Virginia went to live with Linda. Barbara says she can’t imagine why her aunt would change the trust unless Linda manipulated her. Does Barbara have a case against her sister, or is she just being the family troublemaker? Their mother, Fran, drops a bombshell about the real reason the will was changed. Then, Sondra says she and her husband, Patrick, fight constantly since they blew his $100,000 inheritance in less than a year. After purchasing five new cars, a new TV and furniture, they can’t afford to pay for their daughter’s college tuition. How can this couple end the battle over the buck? Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
