It is tough to handle when a loved one passes away. It is also complex and emotional for those left behind. For widows, the pain can be compounded by the pressure to make decisions about the inheritance left behind.
One such widow is faced with a dilemma: should she honor her late husband’s wishes and keep the inheritance for herself, or should she share it with her in-laws despite his instructions? For the sake of her story, we’ll call her Jill.
Jill’s Story
Jill’s 32-year-old husband and soulmate was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and died less than two years later. Jill, his primary caregiver, quit her job to provide full-time care during the last ten months of his life.
As the treatment was complicated and required 24-hour care, it became too much for one individual, and Jill hired a nurse when she or his parents weren’t there. She expressed loving her husband with her entire being and considered taking care of him a top priority. However, after he passed away, Jill found herself alone with only a car, a dog, and an urn.
She had no job or home, as they had been living with his parents and had no family in the city. Jill confessed she had always been uncomfortable with the topic of her late husband’s will and how he intended to distribute money from his insurance policy.
Jill’s husband comes from a wealthier family, and she was worried that people would think she manipulated the individual to get money. So she asked him to decide without their involvement.
He left 60% of the money to Jill and 10% to each of their four siblings. And he left nothing for his parents. He believed Jill would need the money to help rebuild her life, as she left her job for them, had no family nearby, and had no home. So he wanted Jill to pay off her student loan, return to school, get another degree, and buy a home for her and their 80lbs dog.
Jill’s Dilemma
However, his sister was the executor of the will and asked Jill if they wanted to give any of the money to her parents, as they were left nothing in the will. Jill declined, as she had asked him about it before his passing, and he said no.
Now, Jill feels guilty, as she loves his parents, but they understand she needs the money to get back on her feet. However, his sister believes Jill is wrong, and now Jill is unsure.
Jill tries to reassure herself that this is what her late husband wanted. Also, his parents have never asked for money, and the other siblings have never mentioned it. Jill loves the family and doesn’t want to harm them. So she took to Reddit for answers. Here is how they responded.
Get An Estate Lawyer
Many expressed their condolences before one elaborated, “I am so sorry for the loss of your soulmate. Get an estate lawyer to monitor the distribution. An executor is not supposed to follow anything but the intent and will of the deceased. Not saying the sister will do anything wrong, but watch your own back on this one.”
Honor Her Late Husband’s Wishes
“Parents shouldn’t expect to inherit from their children; things aren’t supposed to work that way. I’m sure they didn’t expect any money and wanted the best for Jill, who loved and cared for their son and whom their son loved and wanted to provide for,” answered another. “Jill needs to honor her significant other’s wishes and let him do the last thing he could do for her.”
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You Sacrificed for Him
“You sacrificed everything to care for him in his final days,” one replied. “It is time to build your life with his final gift. His family will be okay, and it’s honestly none of their business at the end of the day.”
Another agreed, “You gave up everything. The parents are fine financially. You are not. I could understand if there was something sentimental, but this is money. So he passed, wanting to know that you would be okay and not on the street because of him.”
What do you think? Should this Redditor give part of the inheritance to her late husband’s parents or honor his final wishes? This article is inspired by the internet and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Wealthy Nickel.