Anonymous wrote:Interesting that Thelma's house was left to her by her own parents, yet she's unwilling to do the same for her own kid. Hmmm. Wonder how successful and wealthy she would be if she didn't have such a large nest egg and never worried about having a roof over her head. Seems a tad bit hypocritical.

But in the end, it was her house to do with what she wanted, and Larla, you should be talking to your Grandmother about putting Mary out. This isn't your responsibility, it's hers. Enjoy your inheritance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from the inconsistencies in this story, the OP seems to spend an awful lot of time on DCUM--to the point of using Larla as her pseudonym--for a childless, 24-year-old college student.

We all spend too much time here.

Anonymous wrote:Aside from the inconsistencies in this story, the OP seems to spend an awful lot of time on DCUM--to the point of using Larla as her pseudonym--for a childless, 24-year-old college student.

Anonymous wrote:Aside from the inconsistencies in this story, the OP seems to spend an awful lot of time on DCUM--to the point of using Larla as her pseudonym--for a childless, 24-year-old college student.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's the moral thing to do because for whatever reason, Mary doesn't seem to be able to take care of herself, and it is very hard for a 50 year old to change much or find a good job. The time for tough love for Mary was earlier in her life when she had a better shot at success. Now, she really needs a place to live that she won't get evicted from. Instead, for you, keeping the whole thing is like winning the lottery.

But Mary has already received an inheritance from her mother. She got a $100k cash payout plus a car. She is also working and has been living there for free. While I know from experience that waitressing is not a lucrative profession, when you have no rent or utilities or food expenses, it's essentially all fun money. I truly don't see why OP should sacrifice her inheritance because her cousin (who also inherited six figures and a car) is not able to support herself at age 50.

And Roy shouldn't factor into this at all. He got his $100k.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lawyer would be able to give good advice about whether or not there would be tax implications. There might not be any, depending on the facts of the situation. They should all be talking to lawyers.

We don't really know that it was Thelma's idea to leave the house to Larla. And it does sound like a lot of the family's wealth was generated by Thelma's husband's hard work. I bet his pay checks and maybe his own physical labor were used over the years for repairs and general upkeep of the family home. He wasn't sitting around doing nothing all day.

And yes, how I feel surely is irrelevant to Larla, and I mentioned above that I didn't think it was. However, I do think a lot of people would feel uncomfortable about walking away with so much more of the family wealth than the actual immediate family of the deceased. I certainly would not want to live in that house under these circumstances, I just don't think I'd be able to feel happy there.

1) She is actual family. Her godmother is also her aunt.
2) You really have no reason to doubt the authenticity of the will, PP. You just want to believe that someone is up to no good. That says a lot more about you than anyone in the situation.
3) It sounds to me like the family's wealth was generated BY THE FAMILY. Two adults who worked. One adult who brought significant assets to the marriage (a house and a bunch of money that they invested and added to AS A FAMILY). The husband predeceased Thelma, leaving the family estate to her. No one said he wasn't doing anything. He worked. But she was the one who brought the initial money and the house to the marriage. If anything, it sounds to me like the husband simply contributed to wealth that his wife brought to the marriage.
4) I would feel uncomfortable kicking my cousin out of the house in these circumstances, but I would still do it. I would try to find a solution for her, but based on everything we've heard about her history and general personality, I don't think she goes quietly. In any case, your feelings about the situation are clearly clouding your ability to even think of it objectively. Did someone "steal" your inheritance, PP? Is that why you're taking this so personally?

Anonymous wrote:It's the moral thing to do because for whatever reason, Mary doesn't seem to be able to take care of herself, and it is very hard for a 50 year old to change much or find a good job. The time for tough love for Mary was earlier in her life when she had a better shot at success. Now, she really needs a place to live that she won't get evicted from. Instead, for you, keeping the whole thing is like winning the lottery.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer some questions:

1. My godmother was in perfect mental and very good physical health. She frequently took solo cruises and road trips. For example, one day she called me from upstate NY to tell me she drove up there to spend time with an old friend. Not sure why you all insist on the fact that she was some feeble minded frail old woman who was deliriously laying in bed having someone drag her hand across the signature line on the will.

2. I have heard with my own ears, my godmother telling her daughter that she shouldn't be so entitled (in a discussion about inheritance) and that she shouldn't expect to inherit much. My godmother was quite wealthy (independently, not through her late DH) but didn't like to let on that she had money. She only did big purchases at Christmas, birthdays and special occasions like graduations, so no one saw her throwing money around on the regular.

3. As much as I don't want to leave Mary without a home, why is it the "moral" thing to split the proceeds of the house with her? Not arguing, just wondering. What's to stop Roy from saying he wants a cut too?

Totally believe you re 1 and 2. Re 3, I suggested earlier that you give both Mary and Roy a cut since they were her children. It's the moral thing to do because for whatever reason, Mary doesn't seem to be able to take care of herself, and it is very hard for a 50 year old to change much or find a good job. The time for tough love for Mary was earlier in her life when she had a better shot at success. Now, she really needs a place to live that she won't get evicted from. Instead, for you, keeping the whole thing is like winning the lottery.