Parents Furious Their 16 Y.O. Straight Up Refuses To Divide Up His Late Aunt’s Inheritance With 4 Other Siblings
There is something about the concept of inheritance that makes people lose their minds.
Money! That’s it, it’s money that’s the root of all evil here. Or the root of any other concept of objective morality.
Most don’t really expect family to become so possessive when it comes to someone getting an inheritance that is proportionately larger than what was given to other family members. It doesn’t have to be greed—mayhaps just good old rivalry or something along those lines—but it hits in the chest all the same.
A Redditor recently shared their conundrum of being a benefactor of a sizable inheritance, and how their mother and stepfather were quick to start dividing all that money up.
More Info: Reddit
Folks can do a lot of things if an inheritance is involved, and that’s all because it’s that cold hard cash that makes people lose their wits
Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko (not the actual photo)
So, Reddit user u/MoreRyres is a 16-year-old teen who lost his dad when he was a baby, and has just recently lost his aunt. For most of his life, he had a stepfather, who brought a 15-year-old daughter from another relationship into this family (OP’s stepsister) and had 3 more kids with OP’s mom, ages 10, 9 and 7 as of the post.
The aunt, and the family on dad’s side in general, have always been involved in OP’s life. She would often tell him how he was just like his dad, who she thought was the best man she knew, and that he would be very proud of him. Needless to say, OP was very close with her.
One teen recently shared a story of how his inheritance led to a pretty intense conflict with his parents who insisted he share it with his 4 other siblings
Image credits: MoreRyres
After her passing, he became a huge benefactor in her will, and the bulk of everything was effectively his now, but accessible only through the grandparents (assuming this is up to a certain age when he will get it directly).
This in turn caught his mother’s and his stepfather’s eye. They were annoyed that none of the other kids among the 5 got anything in the will, and OP explained that that was to be expected. He was the only one directly related to his dad’s side of the family, and from their perspective, all of the other 4 kids were effectively stepkids. That’s not to say they were completely excluded—they were included in some stuff, but not to an inheritance degree.
The inheritance was from the teen’s aunt, and he was the only one of the 5 directly related to her as it was her late brother that was his father
Image credits: MoreRyres
So, in light of all of this, the mother had an idea for OP to split the inheritance equally among all the siblings. Her reasoning was that everyone would benefit from this, and the grandparents would allow OP access to the money.
The stepdad threw his two cents in by saying that if OP refuses, the other siblings will realize OP and his dad’s side of the family hate them, making OP the bad guy and the stepsister the good guy in this situation (despite her dislike of her siblings as well).
The mom and stepdad insisted he share the inheritance as it would be beneficial for everyone, whereas the teen wanted to respect the aunt’s wishes
Image credits: MoreRyres
OP’s stance, however, is that the aunt meant the inheritance for him, so it should stay in his possession. The mother protested against it, saying he’s hogging more than he’ll ever need, refusing to think of their futures.
He also added in a subsequent edit that the grandparents already know of these events, and they are the only ones who have access to the inheritance as the aunt has set it up that way. So, the money is safe.
Image credits: Karolina Grabowska (not the actual photo)
And what started off as wondering whether OP’s wrong to refuse ended up in a thread of support from the internet. Many of the commenters suggested moving in with the grandparents, or getting anyone else from the dad’s side of the family involved to avoid any other shenanigans that might come from the parents.
It was a clear NTA as commenters expressed their words of support, suggesting to get dad’s side of the family involved just in case
Image credits: Brett Sayles (not the actual photo)
Others added that the inheritance was meant for OP, and that’s how it should stay. If anything, it would mean respecting the aunt’s wishes because this whole gesture alone shows just how much she loved her nephew.
The post got some modest attention from the Reddit community, garnering nearly 3,000 upvotes (97% positive) as well as getting hundreds of supportive comments. You can check it all out on Reddit here.
But before that, don’t forget to upvote this article and to comment your thoughts and share your stories in the comment section below! And if you don’t feel like it, then maybe you’d like more malicious compliance in your life?
Auntie clearly knew what she was doing by giving access to the money only to his grandparents until OP is 18...
If it's the US that's usually how it works if you are leaving something to a minor.
Not really. In the US, the parents are the guardians, so the person who wrote this comment is correct. Giving grandparents control and not the mother is spot on.
Child beneficiaries are usually set up with a trust and anyone can be named to care for the trust, doesn't have to be guardians/parents. It should always be the person that has the deceased and beneficiaries best interest at heart, a truly trusted person. In this case, the aunt must have known all the details of OP's situation and chose the perfect plan.
What I thought when I read it was about access at all until age 18 and that's what I was saying
Aunt chose his grandparents to watch over the money. If you leave something to a minor a parent would be the first thing you'd think off
Correct. You cannot leave money directly to minors. I came into some money as a teen but it was in trust and I did not even know about it until I was 25 which was just as well. It is a huge red flag that these greedy people are pressuring a minor who (fortunately) doesn't even have access for several years.
It bugged me that this responsibility had been placed on a 16 year old until I saw that money was under control of grandparents. I think 18 is still very young, I'd have struggled to be responsible with a load of money at that age!
NTA. I feel like the aunt knew that this would happen, and that is why she made it so he could access the money only through the grandparents. If that makes any sense. Also the auntie had her reasons as to why she gave it to him and not his mother, step dad, and siblings. He was the closest to the aunt, he loved her and she loved him. They need to be respectful and BACK OFF.
Given that this child is the only biological nephew of the aunt, it makes sense that she may want to help him, especially given that his father can't be there for him. The parent's request is completely inappropriate. If she'd meant to give it to all the kids, she would have.
lmao I just had to point out the irony of Dan's comment: calling the OP selfish and entitled, while sticking up for the selfish family members who act entitled over an inheritance that isn't theirs.
This comment has been deleted.
Let's not forget if the dad had some work history there would have been social security benefits to help support the kid, of course going to the parents. Then to the kid at 18. They see the gravy train fixin to leave the station and thought it would continue. NOT A CHANCE!!
The 16 year old boy says that his aunt left things to his cousins in her will, but it didn't amount to the same as what she left him. So it seems that she had other biological nieces or nephews, his story just doesn't specify which or if she had another brother or a sister, and does go on to say that no other children in his family are related to his aunt. He does further explain how special she thought his father was and how much she thought his father loved and would be proud of him. Her special relationship with both of them and the fact that he has been without his father are likely the reasons that she left what she did to him. If his step-dad is as sorry about his behavior towards him and his own children as OP says, which would also make his mother a sad excuse for a parent as well, it's likely that the aunt was fully aware and she figured that he would need a boost towards his future. It's abusive and cruel for his mom and step-dad to bully him to coerce his money from him 😢
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I think the kids is being pretty selfish as most spoiled kids are. It always baffles me how ungrateful and entitled people are. I'm a bastard raised by my grandmother I moved out on my own at 17 that being said I never forgot what it cost physically, mentally and of course financially to raise a child. For starters this is a one sided story and even then he still said they asked for him to share with his siblings. When I was growing up whenever I earned any sort of money I wanted to do something nice for my grandmother. I know there are still decent kids that do this. OP sounds a spoiled entitled b*tch. Probably has every game system wears expensive clothes ect. Probably has a car his mother and a dude that isn't even his real father bought him. For him to be this s****y of a person not want to share with his family is disgusting honestly. But I guess they raised him that way. I hope he leaves runs out of money and they cut him off completely.
You literally are protecting so many issues it's nuts. You have NO idea ANYTHING about this kid or his family situation. This is the type of language people use in financial abuse situations. I "lent" my family money when I was stealing food from work to survive and I STILL think you cannot make assumptions like that about a person. Also, idk about you, but doing something that the dead person clearly didn't want to be done is extremely disrespectful.
I’m not even sure what DAN13LG is trying to say; all I hear is “assumption, assumption, assumption, bitterness, anger, and then another far fetched assumption instead of for instance a deduction.” And I can’t ask DAN13LG what he meant either, so I’ll just share this little analysis here and leave it at that.
Why should he share an inheritance with non family? Children have NO obligation to repay parents.
Sounds like Dan has a few toys in the attic
Lol! Sounds more like his attic is empty 😂
Yeah it's the kid who lost his father as a child and now has a s****y step dad who is the spoilt brat. Kid can't even touch the money until they're an adult. This is such a brainless comment.
Emotional blackmail is a great way to let your kid know you care........about his money. Smh.
Auntie clearly knew what she was doing by giving access to the money only to his grandparents until OP is 18...
If it's the US that's usually how it works if you are leaving something to a minor.
Not really. In the US, the parents are the guardians, so the person who wrote this comment is correct. Giving grandparents control and not the mother is spot on.
Child beneficiaries are usually set up with a trust and anyone can be named to care for the trust, doesn't have to be guardians/parents. It should always be the person that has the deceased and beneficiaries best interest at heart, a truly trusted person. In this case, the aunt must have known all the details of OP's situation and chose the perfect plan.
What I thought when I read it was about access at all until age 18 and that's what I was saying
Aunt chose his grandparents to watch over the money. If you leave something to a minor a parent would be the first thing you'd think off
Correct. You cannot leave money directly to minors. I came into some money as a teen but it was in trust and I did not even know about it until I was 25 which was just as well. It is a huge red flag that these greedy people are pressuring a minor who (fortunately) doesn't even have access for several years.
It bugged me that this responsibility had been placed on a 16 year old until I saw that money was under control of grandparents. I think 18 is still very young, I'd have struggled to be responsible with a load of money at that age!
NTA. I feel like the aunt knew that this would happen, and that is why she made it so he could access the money only through the grandparents. If that makes any sense. Also the auntie had her reasons as to why she gave it to him and not his mother, step dad, and siblings. He was the closest to the aunt, he loved her and she loved him. They need to be respectful and BACK OFF.
Given that this child is the only biological nephew of the aunt, it makes sense that she may want to help him, especially given that his father can't be there for him. The parent's request is completely inappropriate. If she'd meant to give it to all the kids, she would have.
lmao I just had to point out the irony of Dan's comment: calling the OP selfish and entitled, while sticking up for the selfish family members who act entitled over an inheritance that isn't theirs.
This comment has been deleted.
Let's not forget if the dad had some work history there would have been social security benefits to help support the kid, of course going to the parents. Then to the kid at 18. They see the gravy train fixin to leave the station and thought it would continue. NOT A CHANCE!!
The 16 year old boy says that his aunt left things to his cousins in her will, but it didn't amount to the same as what she left him. So it seems that she had other biological nieces or nephews, his story just doesn't specify which or if she had another brother or a sister, and does go on to say that no other children in his family are related to his aunt. He does further explain how special she thought his father was and how much she thought his father loved and would be proud of him. Her special relationship with both of them and the fact that he has been without his father are likely the reasons that she left what she did to him. If his step-dad is as sorry about his behavior towards him and his own children as OP says, which would also make his mother a sad excuse for a parent as well, it's likely that the aunt was fully aware and she figured that he would need a boost towards his future. It's abusive and cruel for his mom and step-dad to bully him to coerce his money from him 😢
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
I think the kids is being pretty selfish as most spoiled kids are. It always baffles me how ungrateful and entitled people are. I'm a bastard raised by my grandmother I moved out on my own at 17 that being said I never forgot what it cost physically, mentally and of course financially to raise a child. For starters this is a one sided story and even then he still said they asked for him to share with his siblings. When I was growing up whenever I earned any sort of money I wanted to do something nice for my grandmother. I know there are still decent kids that do this. OP sounds a spoiled entitled b*tch. Probably has every game system wears expensive clothes ect. Probably has a car his mother and a dude that isn't even his real father bought him. For him to be this s****y of a person not want to share with his family is disgusting honestly. But I guess they raised him that way. I hope he leaves runs out of money and they cut him off completely.
You literally are protecting so many issues it's nuts. You have NO idea ANYTHING about this kid or his family situation. This is the type of language people use in financial abuse situations. I "lent" my family money when I was stealing food from work to survive and I STILL think you cannot make assumptions like that about a person. Also, idk about you, but doing something that the dead person clearly didn't want to be done is extremely disrespectful.
I’m not even sure what DAN13LG is trying to say; all I hear is “assumption, assumption, assumption, bitterness, anger, and then another far fetched assumption instead of for instance a deduction.” And I can’t ask DAN13LG what he meant either, so I’ll just share this little analysis here and leave it at that.
Why should he share an inheritance with non family? Children have NO obligation to repay parents.
Sounds like Dan has a few toys in the attic
Lol! Sounds more like his attic is empty 😂
Yeah it's the kid who lost his father as a child and now has a s****y step dad who is the spoilt brat. Kid can't even touch the money until they're an adult. This is such a brainless comment.
Emotional blackmail is a great way to let your kid know you care........about his money. Smh.