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AIBU

Ungrateful nieces querying grandfather's will

(169 Posts)
Jannabell Sat 12-Mar-22 20:39:27

AIBU? I am executor of my late fathers will, which he changed in 2019, over 2 years before his death, and a year after my brother died. I will be distributing the estate next week, and asked all the grandchildren (the two girls and my two sons) for their bank details. Almost immediately my late brother's daughters asked for a copy of the will, which I told them I would be sending with the letter and payment next week, but that the 4 grandchildren would be getting 10% each and gave them the figure they would receive. I think they thought they would be getting more - they are now querying how could he have done that when he didn't always recognise people......neither of them ever visited him, which is why he didn't always know who they were in photographs. I am furious - I suggested he should give them 10% rather than the 5% he had been contemplating....I really wish I had left things alone and not allowed him to change his will, as I would have inherited everything then, but I genuinely thought I was doing the right thing..........

Nonogran Sat 12-Mar-22 20:46:37

Do what the will tells you. That is your legal duty. Ignore any interference or you will find yourself on a road to hell.
If they are not happy let them seek legal advice but if they do, it will swallow up their inheritance anyway. Walk away.

Lathyrus Sat 12-Mar-22 20:49:20

Don’t forget to take all your expenses as executor before distributing the money.

And then walk away.

SueDonim Sat 12-Mar-22 21:01:23

Will your brother’s daughters not also inherit what would have been his share of the inheritance? That’s assuming it had previously been divided equally between you and your brother, of course.

My sister died three years ago so her children will inherit the 25% of my mother’s estate that she’d have received had she lived.

I don’t think anything can be done, though, apart from abiding by your dad’s will.

Jannabell Sat 12-Mar-22 21:13:36

thanks Nonogran - sage advice as ever

Jannabell Sat 12-Mar-22 21:14:43

SueDonim

Will your brother’s daughters not also inherit what would have been his share of the inheritance? That’s assuming it had previously been divided equally between you and your brother, of course.

My sister died three years ago so her children will inherit the 25% of my mother’s estate that she’d have received had she lived.

I don’t think anything can be done, though, apart from abiding by your dad’s will.

no, they would have got nothing, it would have all come to me. That's the thanks I get for being considerate it seems!!

Jannabell Sat 12-Mar-22 21:17:57

Lathyrus

Don’t forget to take all your expenses as executor before distributing the money.

And then walk away.

I have started walking already!! fed up with the whole debacle, though I must admit I was half expecting them to kick up a fuss. I had even kept their secrets about their wayward youth (drugs etc) from my parents, I wish I hadn't now!!

VioletSky Sat 12-Mar-22 21:19:32

Did their father leave them anything when he died?

Maybe they feel it unfair that you might leave part of this money to your children and they will get less in the long run after their fathers earlier sad death.

Not that I think they are right to show that feeling to you, I just understand they might have those feelings.

Possibly those feelings are coming from their own grief and you can let this go

Fridayschild Sat 12-Mar-22 21:40:30

I do think it is a shame and unfair that your brother’s share of your father’s estate is coming to you along with your share. I would have thought that his children should inherit his share. It seems a bit unfair that they will lose out on inheritance because their father died before his father. Maybe this is how they are seeing it. Not only did they lose their father perhaps earlier than would be expected but because of this were then excluded from his share in his father's estate. I obviously don’t know all the ins and outs but it is all very sad.

mumofmadboys Sat 12-Mar-22 21:45:56

I don't think you should claim expenses for being your Dads executor. That would appear very mean.

Beswitched Sat 12-Mar-22 22:04:14

I think what would have been your brothers share should have gone to his spouse or children. That is how things worked in our family. Even when there hadn't been time to change a will the remaining children signed over a certain amount to make sure their dead brother's wife got an equal share which it is assumed will be handed on to her children when she dies.

Jaxjacky Sat 12-Mar-22 22:05:45

As Nonogranhas advised, do what you have to do, then leave the proverbial room. Well done on being the executor, an unenviable task.

Beswitched Sat 12-Mar-22 22:06:46

Lathyrus

Don’t forget to take all your expenses as executor before distributing the money.

And then walk away.

What expenses? Please ignore this advice.

Lathyrus Sat 12-Mar-22 22:35:31

I kind of meant it tongue in cheek.

But executors are entitled to claim their expenses before distributing the remainder. As many a beneficiary has found out!

sharon103 Sat 12-Mar-22 22:46:23

My solicitor has been dealing with my late brother's estate over the last 5 months as he didn't make a will. I am waiting for letters of administration but I can say that Jannabell can claim back anything that she has personally paid out of her own money regarding her father's funeral before she distributes the money.
For example: if she has paid for an obituary notice put in a newspaper, paid for food after the funeral, paid a vicar, order of services for the people that attended the funeral, funeral directors. Outstanding bills etc.
As in our case, because brother made no will, solicitor did a search just in case, He hadn't.
Because there's no will, the 2 adult children of our deceased older sister will inherit half each of her share.
I'm guessing, but I would imagine that because Jannabell's father made a will the money will go to the persons he stated only.

Callistemon21 Sat 12-Mar-22 22:58:10

SueDonim

Will your brother’s daughters not also inherit what would have been his share of the inheritance? That’s assuming it had previously been divided equally between you and your brother, of course.

My sister died three years ago so her children will inherit the 25% of my mother’s estate that she’d have received had she lived.

I don’t think anything can be done, though, apart from abiding by your dad’s will.

I really wish I had left things alone and not allowed him to change his will, as I would have inherited everything then, but I genuinely thought I was doing the right thing

I agree with what ^SueDonim said - surely your broy0ther's part of the inheritance should be going to his children.

To think you should receive it all because your brother died is quite shocking unless your father would have disinherited him for some reason.
Even so, he may still have wanted your brother's share to go to his children.

I'd be asking to see the will, too, if I were them.
And querying if coercion had been involved.

YABVU.

Callistemon21 Sat 12-Mar-22 23:00:45

Jannabell

Lathyrus

Don’t forget to take all your expenses as executor before distributing the money.

And then walk away.

I have started walking already!! fed up with the whole debacle, though I must admit I was half expecting them to kick up a fuss. I had even kept their secrets about their wayward youth (drugs etc) from my parents, I wish I hadn't now!!

I don't believe that anyone could post that.

I hope they contest the will.

Rosie51 Sat 12-Mar-22 23:12:32

I was executor of my father's will because my brother, the joint executor didn't want to be bothered, and signed for me to be sole executor. It involved me doing multiple trips of several hundred miles and the physical task of clearing the house which took ages, sorting out all finances, arranging the funeral, selling the house etc. Eventually I was fed up of bearing the time and money costs alone and claimed my petrol and one hotel overnight stay. I don't feel that was unreasonable and in fact my brother said he hoped I'd taken petrol money. My father's will left it equally to us but if one of us had died, everything went to the surviving child. That's what he wanted, it was his money, why shouldn't he dictate its distribution? In our case it didn't come into play.
I do find it strange that so many people think grandchildren who didn't bother with a grandparent should expect to inherit. It's almost as if the elderly have no right over their finances. Jannabell your father decided what he wanted done with his legacy, you influenced him to be more generous to the grandchildren. Distribute it, then forget grasping relatives.

sharon103 Sat 12-Mar-22 23:14:27

Just to add that according to what I've been told by my solicitor that money from the sale of any possessions of father, rebates from council tax, carers, state pension or a works pension has to go into the pot so to speak. His estate.

Rosie51 Sat 12-Mar-22 23:16:32

I do wonder if one child has more children than the other(s) do people think that the grandchildren in the larger family should get less than the child or children in the smaller family? Is it their fault their parents had more children, do they as individual grandchildren deserve less?

rafichagran Sat 12-Mar-22 23:25:10

I disagree with with Callisamom on this, the 0P Father wanted to leave everything to his daughter less 5% for each Grandchild, the OP persuaded him to make it 10%.
I think she has been very reasonable, as they would have got less if she had not spoken to her Father. I hope they do not contest the will.

Rosie51 Sat 12-Mar-22 23:48:13

If they do contest the will rafichagran surely the fact they never bothered to visit their grandfather would demonstrate they're only interested in the money. Not a nice look, so 'entitled'!

sharon103 Sat 12-Mar-22 23:59:24

This might get deleted but the shit usually hits the fan where wills are concerned. Family fall outs.
That's why I've put it in the hands of my solicitor to distribute as I have beneficiaries abroad.
That way I know it's all fair.
Good luck. Hope all goes well

crazyH Sun 13-Mar-22 00:04:44

So true sharon103 - I think and hope that my Will is fair and that my children will think so too…

biglouis Sun 13-Mar-22 00:23:14

If a solicitor acted as the executer s/he would bill for their time at ££ per hour. When I brought a case to court I also billed for reasonable experses per hour along with other expenses (court costs/transport/phone etc). So surely it would be reasonable for an executer to charge for their time.