A mother’s love for her children is boundless, and she naturally desires to treat them equally. However, Cynthia finds herself in a dilemma as her son insists on claiming his sister’s share of the inheritance, believing he deserves it more. This has left Cynthia feeling lost and shattered by the complexity of the situation. She reached out to us seeking guidance.
No, they may deserve a greater portion than your daughter but not All of it. If it was me I would leave 2 thirds to your son & a third to your daughter But I would put some of that 2 thirds into college funds for your grand kids.
It’s your money but it’s not fair to your son if he has been housing , feeding & supporting you while your daughter contributes nothing.
100%
Move to a senior Community, a small condo just for you, nobody that tells you what to do and how to live etc. Your money your decision what to do with it.
Your money, your rules. But you need to pay for your share/upkeep
Do you contribute to your expenses eg, pay board, a fair share of utilities, groceries, nominal rent etc OR do your Son & DIL Support you, paying your share of utilities, groceries etc.
If you are paying your way then your DIL & SON are very entitled & you should simply ignore them & leave your will as it is. Make sure that Any Jewlery is designated in your will so your DIL Can’t keep things you want your daughter to have, in fact Give your daughter things you want her to have Now so you know she gets them.
Yes it’s fair that your Son should get a larger portion if he has been supporting you financially but that does Not mean your daughter should get nothing. Your DIL & SON are greedy & entitled, it may be better if you find an assisted living facility now so they can’t take everything.
Plus, they are probably getting the write off on their taxes and claiming you as a dependent I bet. That alone pays them back for your upkeep in my mind.
If you pay more than half a parent's expenses you can claim them on your taxes but the maximum you can claim is $573. That hardly pays them back for those expenses.
i am an Asian our up bring defers from westerners so the difference of thoughts should be considered our parents brought us up through thick and thin we do what we can if any of my siblings not able to support so be it , its also our culture for inheritance to be given to daughters because man can sleep Anyware not a woman this refer especially to the family
property
Thanks for sharing your story with us, Cynthia! We’ve prepared some tips that we hope can be useful.
Arrange a family meeting that includes a neutral third party, such as a professional mediator or a trusted family friend. This can help ensure that everyone's feelings and perspectives are heard in a structured environment.
During this meeting, explain your intentions regarding the inheritance and emphasize the importance of fairness and understanding among your children. The mediator can help facilitate a constructive dialogue and mediate any conflicts that arise.
Compile a comprehensive record of all financial contributions and expenses related to your care over the past four years. Present this information to both your son and daughter to provide transparency.
This record should include any monetary help you’ve given to your daughter and the expenses your son and DIL have incurred. This transparency can help clarify the financial dynamics and address any misconceptions about fairness and contributions.
Consult with an estate planning attorney to explore options that can address your son and DIL’s concerns without disinheriting your daughter. An attorney can help you draft a will that considers both the financial support you’ve received from your son and DIL and your daughter's financial needs.
Options might include creating a trust that allocates funds differently or providing specific bequests to ensure both children are fairly treated according to their contributions and needs.
If the tension continues to escalate, consider exploring alternative living arrangements. Discuss with your son and daughter the possibility of moving to a senior living community where you can maintain independence without placing a financial burden on either child.
This might alleviate some of the stress and resentment related to financial contributions and provide you with a neutral living environment. This decision should be made after careful consideration and discussion with your children about long-term care plans and financial support.
This is not the first time that the topic of inheritance has caused conflicts within families. Melody kept her inheritance a secret from her husband. When he eventually discovered it, he was furious and claimed he could never forgive her. Find out the full story here.
