Dead Left

Grandma dies. The fruit of her loins declares war over the property she left behind.

Joined by Grandchildren, perhaps with the intervention of siblings and in-laws, the war over Grandma’s “dead left” will rage for decades.

If there is a Will, there’s a Writ, and arguments over validity will commence. If there is no Will, then it’s a duel to the death, over that shack in inner ghetto and that .5 diamond ring.

There is no “winning” .  One might gain a car but lose her brother. One might get the deed to that house at the expense of all their relatives.

Is it worth it?

Wise parents often share out excess property during their lifetimes. Some sell it, placing the money in a trust specifying the percentage each beneficiary is to get.

Some leave carefully constructed Wills in the hands of a competent attorney.

Others leave confusion.

Where a decendent has varied pieces of property and has either left no will or left a will which may be obsolete or limited; that is leaving a piece of property sold within the testator’s lifetime, or omits specific property one has fired the first shot in the War.

Unless you hate your children equally and want to prove to them how base they are, then let the games begin. Otherwise, be very specific and always have a clause; “The residue of my property which was not specifically named is to go to—-(Name of Person or Charity).”

If you are a child or grandchild in a situation in which a property fight is imminent, ask yourself; do you really want to devote the next decade of your life fighting with your siblings over Grandma’s property?

Some children have lived all their lives waiting for their parents to die to grab their property. Are you one of them?

Some children/grandchildren might know that Grandma wanted them to have the house by the lake or the piano, but the idea of having to hire a lawyer and fight their relatives over it is so disheartening, they prefer to pack up and move a hundred miles away.

Lawyers buy yachts when middle class people fight over Grandma’s “dead left”. There are always “spin off” cases, in which Big Son had paid light bill on Grandma’s apartment now demands repayment with interest when Big Daughter gets the keys, and Grandson who is living in Grandma’s house is to be evicted when Uncle Bob demands the premises.

To have to “prove” your case might demand so many documents and so much research, that your lawyer will be driving a Benz when you’ve to sell your Honda and ride the bus.

Do a Google of “Hattie Green”, and see how millions of dollars were squandered arguing over a will. And think to yourself; “Is fighting over Grandma’s Dead Left how I wish to spend the rest of my life?”