Wills Mk II
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 7:14 pm
I have a little conundrum. My mother's Will makes no provision for my [half]sister, S, other than the bequest of a grandfather clock that was given to her by my sister's paternal grandfather, and a share of her personal chattels (house contents, car, jewellery, etc.).* Unfortunately, the Will was written a few years ago and the grandfather clock has since been given to my cousin, L.
In fact, mum offered the clock to S a year or so ago, but S was only interested in selling it, as she said she didn't have space. Mum wanted the clock to stay in the family, but she needed space in her living room to accommodate a riser chair. So, the clock was given to L.
Anyway, S has now read the Will and has emailed me saying that that the clock was one of the most valuable things in the house, that she has nothing from her father's side of the family, and that mum didn't give her enough notice to arrange a van to collect it when it was offered.
I'm inclined to believe mum's side of the story - that S only wanted to sell the clock. She has a small flat and would almost certainly have nowhere to put the clock and, whenever I've broached the subject of 'her share' of mum's things, she has told me that - apart from two small pieces of furniture - she doesn't have room for them and wants to sell them.
S says she's hurt by mum giving away the clock and wants L to give up a painting that mum left him 'in exchange'. However, the painting in question is a worthless copy of a portrait, the original of which belonged to our maternal grandparents and has long-since been sold. S knows the portrait is worthless. It's not even a very good copy. It has nothing to do with her father's family, and it has been promised to L forever. S doesn't like L and he really wants the painting.
L is an Executor of mum's estate, along with me and R. He will meet S at the ash-scattering on Monday, so I felt I had to say something. While I understand why S is hurt, she has no real right to ask L to give up the only thing mum left him. He and mum were very fond of each other, and the fact that she has picked something that is worthless, and that she has never shown any previous interest in, smacks of spite. Given that S has previously said she wants to sell her share of mum's chattels, I'm not sure what to do for the best - if anything.
*S inherits from various trusts on her father's side, so is, financially, well looked after.
In fact, mum offered the clock to S a year or so ago, but S was only interested in selling it, as she said she didn't have space. Mum wanted the clock to stay in the family, but she needed space in her living room to accommodate a riser chair. So, the clock was given to L.
Anyway, S has now read the Will and has emailed me saying that that the clock was one of the most valuable things in the house, that she has nothing from her father's side of the family, and that mum didn't give her enough notice to arrange a van to collect it when it was offered.
I'm inclined to believe mum's side of the story - that S only wanted to sell the clock. She has a small flat and would almost certainly have nowhere to put the clock and, whenever I've broached the subject of 'her share' of mum's things, she has told me that - apart from two small pieces of furniture - she doesn't have room for them and wants to sell them.
S says she's hurt by mum giving away the clock and wants L to give up a painting that mum left him 'in exchange'. However, the painting in question is a worthless copy of a portrait, the original of which belonged to our maternal grandparents and has long-since been sold. S knows the portrait is worthless. It's not even a very good copy. It has nothing to do with her father's family, and it has been promised to L forever. S doesn't like L and he really wants the painting.
L is an Executor of mum's estate, along with me and R. He will meet S at the ash-scattering on Monday, so I felt I had to say something. While I understand why S is hurt, she has no real right to ask L to give up the only thing mum left him. He and mum were very fond of each other, and the fact that she has picked something that is worthless, and that she has never shown any previous interest in, smacks of spite. Given that S has previously said she wants to sell her share of mum's chattels, I'm not sure what to do for the best - if anything.
*S inherits from various trusts on her father's side, so is, financially, well looked after.