Estranged family making trouble

[Anonymous]

I have been estranged from my family for nearly 15 years for various reasons. Staunch Catholic family, very conservative. Me - liberal, gay, pro-choice. Always picked on by her siblings, always admonished by her parents. I slowly cut off communication when I moved to college. Last year my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and reached out through mutual acquaintances "to make amends." Much to my siblings' chagrin, we met, we talked, we were both at peace. He seemed pleased with me, he really liked the fact that I made something of myself and that I was in a stable relationship compared to his other children. He passed away a few months ago and no, none of them bothered to tell me about his funeral.

Fast forward - apparently he left me some money. His lawyer reached out to me. My siblings are obviously not pleased and want to contest the will. I don't particularly care about the money, I am well off financially but part of me says "hey, why not?" Maybe I'll buy a piece of art to remind me of the day I made amends with my father.

WWYD, DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Let them contest. Remain no contact.

[Anonymous]

Let them contest it. They'd have to have good reason to refuse it through the court. Just represent yourself. Put it away for your kids. Done.

[Anonymous]

I would take the money and continue to have no contact with them. It's not their money. It was your father's and he wanted you to have it.

[Anonymous]

Take the money and remember better years with your father with it.

Eff the rest of your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would take the money and continue to have no contact with them. It's not their money. It was your father's and he wanted you to have it.

+1
Let them contest it. I can't see what grounds they could possibly have for contesting your father's decision to leave some of his money to one of his children. It doesn't even sound like you got his whole estate or anything.

[Anonymous]

I would take the money and ignore those silly people. I am so happy you were able to reconciliate with your father before his death. The funeral is for the living, the reconciliation was for him and yourself.

[Anonymous]

Actually if he'd left you nothing, you could contest it.

[Anonymous]

Keep your money. You're just as much that man's child as any of them.

[Anonymous]

The only time someone wins when contesting a will is when one or more of the next of kin are left out. Usually, the excluded party can sue to get their share. In this case, they will not have any luck contesting that a next of kin is included. Unless you are given a much larger share than anyone else, they would never win and they'll spend every penny of their own inheritance trying to get your share. They just won't get anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let them contest. Remain no contact.

+1

[Anonymous]

Tell them to consult their priest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually if he'd left you nothing, you could contest it.

This. They can't contest that every child received a share. That's insane.

[Anonymous]

Take the money. Plant some trees.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Anonymous]

No lawyer worth his salt would even take such a case if the will was prepared and signed in the presence of a witness. Take your inheritance and hope that one day your siblings will be able to ask for your forgiveness. I don't advocate remaining estranged if you can find common bonds with family.