I don’t understand the conversation around a trust. If they can’t afford a retirement home now, then there likely won’t be anything left when they pass. If I were your dh I’d tell FIL they are not doing her any favors by continuously bailing her out. They’re infantilizing her, crippling her really. It’s not good for her. Maybe that message would get through to them. |
Ha! Exactly. |
They haven't died, it's their money, not an inheritance! There is nothing for trusts if they cannot pay for their own care. |
There is no money. So you can stop talking about your "inheritance" at any time. There is nothing for your husband to agree to and you're not going to get money earmarked for your kid. So plan accordingly. |
+1. Expect to get nothing and give nothing that you will need for you and your child. |
I had this happen in my family and my brother ended up sucking them dry. Me, my other siblings, their children and my SN child will never get a penny. It isn't about the money but it sure would be nice to have because my child's needs get more expensive every year and we are retiring soon for health reasons. Agree that there will not be an inheritance but you are entitled to be resentful. There's no point in talking to your FIL. |
If your DH wants your input (and mine would) I would suggest FIL structure the inheritance so SILs portion is in trust, not disinherit DH/ your kids.
If he does not want you input, you need to make sure that if *you* receive an inheritance you don’t commingle it with your spouse. |
Yes all of this. OP, we have a similar situation. SIL takes takes takes and my DH has always been self sufficient. As such, his parents have given tens of thousands of dollars to his sister over the years and nothing to him. Occasionally I feel pretty angry about how they treat him, even outside of money. They often act like he's an idiot when he is the one who has always supported himself. But. I put that aside. His parents don't have a ton of money, and they will most likely leave SIL and her kid much more than they leave my DH and his kids. That part I can make my peace with, though it feels unfair to be punished for being responsible. It's not life changing money in any world. BUT: the one line I have repeated over and over and over is that once his parents are gone, and the money is spent (she will spend every dime within a few years) it ends there. I will not give her money down an endless pit. My DH agrees with me, so that's the end of it for us until this all plays out. I do think about how his sister will probably shift and start asking for support from her child in the coming years, but that's also not my problem. |
DH needs to tactfully remind ILs to make solid provisions for their own care because you will not be able to assist with a SN child and SIL will obviously not be contributing. He needs to ensure that they cannot take on any more debt for her. Honestly, I think it’s time they sit with a lawyer to get things lined up. Your FIL needs some financial and legal guardrails set up to protect him from his own generosity. He’s bleeding himself dry out of emotion and it’s clear he feels guilt. Having a lawyer to “blame” for tying up access to the money might be the excuse that helps him learn to say no to SIL. |
Well, who has rewarded the loser sister for either having shitty parents or shitty genes from her parents? No one wants to be a loser. Most losers were either poorly parented or have underlying mental/ health issues preventing them from being successful. |
Love of money is the root of all evil.
OP, concentrate on what is best for the relationships here — all of them, and put aside your greed. |
You can't stop at this! How did SIL get two Ivy League degrees? Professional degree or humanities grad school? How is a super elite high income begging poverty to her less wealthy parents? Why don't FIL/MIL trust DH to be stewards of this super success but somehow role person's finances? Did SIL go to private high school? Was she the spoiled pretty golden child that dad bought admissions for before he wasted all his own money on bad financial choices? |
Tell your DH to stop putting in the strong face, and "confess" that your savings have evaporated due to home repairs and medical challenges and your employer slashing benefits and not giving raises for years. |
So misrepresent their financial situation to his father? A man with integrity wouldn't do this. Besides, it doesn't work when you have a needier sibling that has been enabled all her life. FIL doesn't need his son's permission to change his will/trust. |