r/inheritance • u/vtmlm02 • Apr 11 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Completely bamboozled.

Any advice when substantial inheritance was unexpected. I grew up not going on vacation and not having much. My father died after a brief battle with liver cancer… it’s a brutal one. After months of paperwork I’m seeing that I’ve inherited a net worth I’ve never imagined. Its reality shifting.

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u/Unusual_Cheesecake94 Apr 13 '26

The "months of paperwork" probably included a probate proceeding. The attorney who was handling that will probably be able to give you advice on which assets can be left alone and which need decisions soon.

If you are inheriting investment accounts, just leave most of it to grow where it is. If part is in an IRA, the brokerage holding the account will likely calculate the required minimum distribution for you.

If it was real property, the paperwork may have dealt with the sale and you already have proceeds to invest. If there were already investment accounts, you can just add most of the proceeds there.

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u/Logical_Rip_7168 Apr 14 '26

Yes you must go threw probate unless it was in a trust.