Too bad. That there is a problem, when family members "expect" an inheritance as if they worked for it. Just saying...
A friend of mine lost his mom. His dad found a Mexican girlfriend within a month, married within 6 months. All the dad's money gone within a couple years. The mom had diligently saved, and took care of finances. The new wife had adult children from another marriage, and they hit up my friend's dad for "loans" and co-signing which they never paid back. My friend and his brother didn't see a cent of inheritance, but they were well-off and didn't expect any. Friend went livid when the stepmom's family started hitting him up for loans and money, kicked them out of his life. Yeah, there are women out to get old men's money, and they're usually successful at getting it.
I have a very low expectation when it comes to inheritance. My folks earned it. I want them to enjoy it.
It does rub me wrong when people come in at the last minute, not being a part of the sacrifice and wealth building process, and then grown children who have a 60 year relationship with their parents get nothing.
Greedy? No. I think that’s a lot less greedy than a wife that has only been around for five to ten years and gets it all through manipulation.
In the case where people have done well themselves, it isn’t as bad as it could be.
I knew a person who working hard all their life. They raised a kid by themselves with lower end scale income. It would have made a very big difference in her golden years, if her father had been more considerate of her.
All his wealth, the family home for over 50 years, all the family heirlooms evaporated.
That really wasn’t right.
If he had spent it on cruises, trips overseas, or whatever, I think you could at least be thankful he got to enjoy it.
His estate was easily over half a million, and then some.
The wife of five to ten years got everything.
Don’t forget, that when people are accumulating wealth, they often times do without. The children also make by with less, in the interest of family solvency and future expectations.
Parents aren’t the only ones who work for things. The kids by being good and supportive, not complaining, are also contributing.
I’m not saying this for myself. I am saying it for kids who have a 60 plus year relationship with their parents helping them out and visa versa over the decades, to all of a sudden come up with nothing when the final family unit is ultimately cashed out.