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The topic ofinheritancecan often come with mixed feelings.
And along with inheritances often comes somefamily dramasurrounding whos entitled to what.
The first reason is to avoid the probate process.
When you die without a will, it is called dying intestate.
The probate process can be time-consuming and expensive and it is easier for your heirs to avoid that process.
The second reason is to ensure your assets pass the way you want them to.
These laws vary by state, but typically all money goes to your surviving spouse.
If you dont have a surviving spouse, it may be split equally by your children.
If you dont have children, it would be split by other close relatives.
The problem is that not everyone wants their money to go this way!
This is clearly not what OPs mom wanted.
Having a plan in place can also prevent fights between family members, Katherine noted.
She could have avoided this situation, he could have understood why money was being left to their child.
The expert says that disputes between siblings are also common after a parent passes.
It can lead to family-ending fights.
In that case, money often passes directly to children and avoids the step-parent.
This situation can turn extremely messy when the step-parent feels entitled to assets, not unlike OPs situation.
This is EXPLICITLY what his mom wanted!
This is money that his maternal grandparents made by selling a successful business, Katherine explained.
Why would their maternal grandparents give money from their side of the family to a son-in-law?
She noted that two likely explanations exist for the plan OPs family set up.
And this is exactly what ended up happening!
OP is 100% in the right to keep this money for himself.
There is no confusion about his moms intent for him to have this money for his future needs.
Katherine added that she feels deeply for the OP.
I would not want him to be pressured into giving any (let alone half!)
of his inheritance away.
This is a lot of money to inherit at 18.
Imagine if OPs mom didnt have an estate plan.
Do you think they would have shared half of it with OP?
I seriously doubt it.
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