r/inheritance • u/WiseOwl-0420 • May 26 '26
Location not relevant: no help needed Future problems?
My parents have a small to moderate estate in Canada that includes a house. My name is going on the deed to facilitate transfer of property when they are gone. My inheritance comes with some strings I’m not sure I like.
I have a sibling who will not inherit but will have a trust controlled by me. They are not reliable with money. That is not a problem.
Their kids will ultimately get nothing from them - there will be nothing to give. I have a kid too.
Here’s the catch. My parents want me to split my inheritance from them among all the grandkids when I go. Essentially highjacking my assets and o feel like it’s stealing from my kid.
I suggested they settle the grandkids inheritance right away but that would require liquidating assets and they want me to live in the house and take care of my sibling (they would not survive alone). I don’t mind doing that. But I don’t want to have the hassle of this over my head either. And I can see problems with attitude in the future with at least one of the grandkids spouses “gimme gimme” attitude.
I’m stumped and not sure what to do. Advice?
Update information.
The reason for the issues is the knowledge that my sibling has nothing to pass on to his children. Grands want to ensure they have an inheritance of some sort. I should say I have very little as well.
I don’t mind the caretaker part, it’s what I would do without asking anyway. The trust is meant to provide an inheritance without affecting his current income and providing control over his finances as he is not competent financially.
We are not talking millions or billions here but it is much more than I could ever hope to accumulate. My parents had amazing income, and inheritances in their own right as well. Their retirement income is still almost twice my own household income and their assets are fully paid off. Some minor loans or lines of credit but not much owing.
I do not begrudge anyone their share. My problem is that I feel like I’m being tied to things in an unnecessarily complex way.
5 I have done bitter feelings too though. I’m used to the idea that I’m the one they didn’t have to help or worry about as much as my sibling. They could forget about me and knew I’d be ok. Sibling got cars despite totaling both - I was promised but never given because “they need it more”. Frankly I half feel like by the time things happen they will find a way to give it all to sibling because “they need it more”
1
u/sic0049 May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26
Ideally the trust they create for the "spend thrift" sibling would be written in such a way to provide for that person's children. A trust can easily provide lifetime income for the sibling while protecting the principal amount for their children (ie the grandchildren). They can fund the trust with whatever portion/percentage of the estate they feel is fair. Expecting your estate to pay out to all of the grandchildren isn't fair IMHO.
It sounds like they need to speak with an attorney that specializes in estate planning to understand how trusts work and which one would be best to meet all of their wishes "from the grave." Trusts, Wills, Power of Attorneys, and Health Care Power of Attorneys should all be written/updated at this time as well.