Should All Children Expect to Inherit Their Parents’ Estate Equally?
Q: In a recent column, you discussed the case of an 84-year old mother who had deeded her property to her granddaughter and older sister. The question posed was whether the mother was of sound mind.
While abuse and duress certainly seem to be prevalent in these money-hungry days, perhaps the opposite is true. Perhaps the mother is leaving property to those who treat her best, namely, in this case, the granddaughter and the older sister.
People expect to automatically inherit on the basis of relation but the mother may not like how she has been treated by the twin sisters and has chosen to leave them nothing.
A: You are right, of course. It’s entirely possible that the daughter who wrote to me has done something really awful to her mother and has been cut out of the will. And, I said as much in the first sentence of the answer.
But I also wanted to raise the possibility of elder abuse because it is such a heinous crime and because it goes on every day.
I think part of my job is exploring both sides of an issue and providing a takeaway to help the letter writer. In this case, I suggested that my correspondent discuss the issue with her mother so that she gains “closure” and doesn’t spend the rest of her life wondering what really happened.
But if in that conversation, it appears to her that her mother is confused and doesn’t understand what has happened, there may be something worth pursuing with an elder law attorney.
Thanks for taking the time to write.
Read More:
Using a Quit Claim Deed Will Transfer Title and Nullify Your Wishes in Your Will
Tax Treatment of Inherited IRA Subject to Taxes
Inheritance Taxes Depend on Estate Structure
My mother has never forgiven me for marrying
and living in another country. She told me straight in the face that I won’t be getting anything and that I shouldn’t even ask for it. It
hurts very very badly that my mother would treat me this way. Not so much that I wouidn’t be getting anything but that she never forgave me. I am the only daughter and I have two brothers. Did I do such a bad thing to deserve this? I still go home to my country quite often and pretend that nothing has happened. My brothers love me very much, though. Recently, I found out that I am adopted, maybe that could be the main reason why my mother said that girls don’t any inheritance. I always feel sad about all this, mostly mentally and emotionally.
On top of that, I never had the close relation that most mothers and daughters have. When I was young I got caned alot by my mother and I have always felt that she doesn’t love me.
I feel much better now that I can voice out my
feelings here and if anyone out there who has good advice, I really appreciate it.