Torn over money

Yep I can! But seriously, didn't it strike anyone else as rather odd? And the coup de grace about the cat? And such a lot of money...and yet? And my point about the aunt and the brother? Nope, doesn't add up. Come on Abbey - where are you?

Bluebell can.

I have a booklet in front of me from Viva! called A Gift for Life.
It is Viva!'s guide to making a will.
You can give a legacy to Viva! and they will write a will for you for nothing. I am sure the charity would love to have all your money in exchange for looking after your cat. You can even have Viva! act as executor.

I don't that we can be 100% certain that it was made up.

Bet we never hear from Abby again - completely made up. Boring....

Some solicitors aren't though . I had a real battle with one when I got divorced [as if getting divorced itself wasn't bad enough]. The final bill was greatly reduced when I refused to pay for the times he'd charged me for making good mistakes that they had made. Most people don't use a solicitor very often and don't realise that every second they spend talking to them on the phone [or sitting in the office drinking the cup of tea that was offered] has to be paid for . I learned the hard way.

How can such good fortune result in such a lack of joy?

There are so many worthwhile ways the money could be used.

Can't see any point in the OP spending it on things she doesn't really want just for the sake of it.

Agree with j08 but only about 90 percent.

Tegan You do not have to go through a solicitor unless a solicitor is appointed as the executor of a will. However, the processes are often long winded and can be difficult to sort out, which is why many people do. Solicitors do not have to be expensive but they are professionals and a professional fee is appropriate. Writing a will with a solicitor's advice is the best way to be sure that your wishes for your estate will be carried out properly after your death.

Don't you still have to make a will to leave any savings in your name to your husband? I realise he'd get the money anyway but he'd have to get it through a solicitor wouldn't he, who would charge the earth. My mum and dad didn't make a will and what little money that had was eaten away by solicitors fees when they died. It had once been enough to buy a small house but they carried on renting a council property and kept the money in the bank; when they died there was just a couple of thousands [and the solicitor got a chunk of that]. A can always be changed but no will means another rich solicitor rubbing his/her hands in glee. By the way, what's the problem with it going to 'needy people'? Homeless, starving etc etc. I'd give anything to be so well off that I could help other people less fortunate than myself .

OMG - I'm in 150% agreement with J0!! But still think its a wind up - if it's true, then I sort of feel sad for her...

Very well said Elegran. Certainly Abbey there doesn't seem to be any urgency, so why not take your time and think about it for a while.

If you don't want to do anything, Abbey, then do nothing. Once you are dead, the rest of them will have the hassle of getting it all sorted out. There are rules about who gets what proportion, depending on how close a relative they are. It could take some time for it all to be settled, and some lawyer will make a packet out of it, but you will not need any money by then yourself.

However, if you can be bothered to make an appointment with a lawyer, and spend a little time thinking beforehand about just who you DO want to benefit from your wealth, it will go where YOU would like it to.

If you change your mind while you are still of sound mind, you can write a new will, or add a codicil to the existing one. It is your last will and testament that will be acted upon.

Spot on J0

I've got so much money! And I don't want anyone else to have any. What shall I do?!!!

Finger down throat emoticon.

Totally moronic first post.

Yes GN. Delete it.

Actually, I think you are being really silly. You need to man up a bit. It's your money. Do what you want with it.

Get your stuffing doors and windows done. Tell them to sod off.

And then think about the good you could do to people, not flippin' animals.

now

I think you should start doing holidays and spend some of it seeing as there is no-one apart from your husband you want to leave it to. The world is full of lovely places you could be visiting.

You say your aunt died intestate - in that case her estate must have been shared between you and your brother ( you say she was your mothers sister) or does your brother have a different mother or is this a wind up? It doesn't quite add up - no nice friends or relatives whose lives you'd like to improve ( now or later)? No causes you are committed to apart from
One that will look after your cat? Goodness if I had that amount if money lying around I'd get so much pleasure out of all the good I could do with it.

I also would strongly advise you to make a will. The money that I may have left (after nursing home fees etc) will be divided between I think 10 charities. The relatives that I have are not close and if they were, they could also take a run and a jump as it will be my decision as it is yours.

I agree, make yourselves comfortable at home and also for later life if either or both will need nursing home care. That is not cheap.

Have you got money in ISAs and premium bonds to lessen the tax bill?

Welcome Abby. I am with the majority, its your money do what you like with it but I feel that as you have no children you should spend as much as you can of it on you and your husband because as they say, there are no pockets in a shroud. Go on a cruise, lose it all gambling in Las Vegas, redecorate and refurnish your home from top to bottom, whatever appeals to you, but most of all enjoy it and if you do not want to make a will, don't. If you are not bothered who has the money after you die, you do not need one anyway. At least nobody will be able to complain because they were left out

Whilst my relatives know the contents of my Will they do encourage me to spend! The money is yours to do with as you please - I agree you should spend some money on making your home comfortable and tell everyone else to go take a hike! With the amount of money you have I would strongly advise you to make a Will.

Hello, Abbey and welcome! I agree with everything other GNs are saying, and I'd also like to endorse what Moved says.

Think of your future, and how you would like it to be, and make your home a safe and very comfortable place for both of you. You can afford to do it, and why not? The house we are in now is exactly how we want it to be (well, I can always think of more!) and it will be easy to run as we get older.

Look after yourself and Mr Abbey first! It is your money!

My uncle who was single and in his eighties found he had a lot of "friends".his tactic was to say I'll see you all right. In fact he left £1000to each of the closest of his cronies. You could do the same. And Abby get your house sorted before it becomes a tiresome chore in your seventies.

Welcome Abbey, I don't like being told what to do either!

It's your money to do what you like with, I would tell them all that I'd lost it gambling!

Good luck if you choose multiple savings accounts. You will spend a lot of time in front of your computer screen, watching over it all. A sure road to anxiety and depression.