My grandmother left everything to me after she died but my relatives say they deserve something. What should I do?

Dear Dave,

I’m 32 and debt-free, isolated from for my house. My grandma passed distant a mates of months ago, and her will has caused problems for my family. I was her only comparative surviving successful nan aforesaid municipality arsenic she sewage older, truthful I looked successful connected her and helped return attraction of her, because she didn’t want to spell into a attraction facility. In her will, she near everything — her location and property, on pinch astir $300,000 — to me. Some of my relatives said they merit something. Two person moreover accused maine of wanting everything she had and turning my grandma against them. I don’t for illustration what’s happening, but I’m not judge what to do. I ne'er asked her for anything.

Jeffrey

Dear Jeffrey,

I dislike it erstwhile things get disfigured betwixt family members, particularly astatine a clip erstwhile everyone should beryllium pulling together and supporting each other. I’m sorry you’re going done each this.

Let maine inquire you a question. Did you emotion your grandmother? It sounds to maine for illustration you did. A lot! It takes a typical personification to measurement successful and thief nan measurement you did. I deliberation it’s beautiful evident she loved you, too.

When a personification dies, they tin springiness their belongings to anyone they choose. It was your grandmother’s stuff, truthful it was her decision. Period. She could’ve dispersed it astir among you and nan remainder of your family, but she didn’t do that. She had her reasons, and her last wishes were conscionable that—her last wishes. No 1 successful your family, moreover you, deserved thing from her.

I cognize this is simply a difficult position for you to beryllium in, Jeffrey. This has astir apt crossed your mind, truthful I’ll spell up and opportunity it. Generally speaking, it’s imaginable to transportation portion of your inheritance to personification other moreover if it’s not specified successful nan will aliases trust. Keep successful mind, you mightiness request to activity tribunal support for specified a transfer, depending connected nan jurisdiction and circumstantial family circumstances.

Or, you tin fto anyone who has a problem pinch your grandmother’s determination title nan will. Of course, 1 imaginable result of that is you mightiness person to walk nan money she near fighting them successful court. The woman near what she left. There’s nary more. It was her house, her spot and her money. The others aren’t entitled to what she had conscionable because they’re relatives aliases they want it.

If you spell to church, I’d counsel you walk immoderate clip talking to your pastor astir nan situation. You’ve sewage a batch of folks huffy astatine you correct now, and I deliberation you mightiness use from a fewer benignant words and an nonsubjective constituent of view. I’d besides urge sitting down pinch a bully financial planner—someone pinch nan bosom of a teacher—and talk astir to champion grip your newfound inheritance. Regardless of your decision, it’s ever champion to person a scheme and beryllium prepared.

In nan meantime, don’t hit yourself up complete this, son. You haven’t done thing wrong.

God bless you.

—Dave