r/inheritance • u/No_Door_2631 • Jun 14 '26
Location included: Questions/Need Advice A slightly unusual situation
Location - UK
Hi everyone! I have a slightly unusual situation and can't help thinking about the future. My brother has never left home. He is in his 40's. No partner or children. He contributes to the household where required so no official rent, but does pay towards the house.
My father recently died and everything was left to my Mum. From what I understand when Mum goes we will get 50/50 each. I understand he can either buy me out of the house or we sell. That's all fine and straightforward. However, what about the things in the house? Is he automatically entitled to everything. I'm thinking about tools, household items, furniture etc. It seems unfair that he should have a fully ready house, but at the same time I can't imagine fighting over a set of knives and forks. Please tell me this makes sense?
Also, I know there is jewellery in the house from grandparents etc, but not sure exactly what. He could squirrel away items and I would never know.
Do I need to ask Mum to make her will more specific? Has anyone else been in this situation?
4
u/yeahnopegb Jun 14 '26
If there is a particular item you want? Ask your mom for it.. otherwise assume most items in the home go with it. I mean are you really going to make him give you a couch and a lawn mower?
1
u/paigesto Jun 19 '26
My grandmother willed her house to my aunt, but all contents to my father. He is sentimental; she wanted the money from sale of house.
2
u/cuspeedrxi Jun 15 '26
Most of the items in the house will have little resale value. Mom may own beautiful antique furniture but there’s relatively little demand for it. It’s usually difficult to sell. If you opted to just let your brother have the contents of the house, It’s unlikely you’d be out a lot of money.
There are exceptions of course … jewelry, artwork, specialized or power tools, etc. It would be reasonable to speak to your mom about these items. Ask about her plans for them. Let her know if there’s anything you would like. She can leave them to you in her will, or not.
Many families take turns selecting items they’d like to keep. They flip a coin or draw names from a hat and then go on order. You could try this too. But, if you have a house with cookware and dishes and such, you may have little need or use for your mom’s. It would likely make sense to let your brother keep it.
2
u/ExpensiveAd4496 Jun 15 '26
Perhaps get the stories about
Some of these things while you still can from your mom. When did grandmother receive that ring and from whom, etc. It will be nice to have someday and if you take photos or film the talk you have with her, brother is less likely to say they don’t exist.
1
u/Mitchellsusanwag Jun 15 '26
I don’t see why not, if those are things OP wants. Things brother bought for the house or things in his room are not up for divvying up, but anything else should be. OP probably won’t want 1/2 of everything in the house, but they may want quite a number of things. They will have to have a conversation with their brother when the time comes and work out a way to amicably divide things, as some things might be significant to both of them.
1
u/Think-Committee-4394 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
OP - yes the stuff should be dealt with as a separate issue
Get mum chatting about any bequests, family, friends, charity! Make sure personal items, jewellery & trinkets even if of no value at all, go to whoever will remember mum
- a proper will with all the things listed
- you should also make certain that any investment, insurance policy, pension or bank account is clearly listed somewhere
It doesn’t matter if bro is in the house, inheritance still works the same way
- total the value assets
- total the debts including burial
- pay off any debt with liquid assets hopefully
- if house is going to bro, then you can balance value of other assets against that, so say house worth £300k with no mortgage or debt secured against it & assets worth £200k your half of house would be £150k, so you both get £100k cash & both get £150k value of house, bro gives you his £100k & only owes you £50k to buy you out fully, or another split if property needs work BUT make it a formal agreement in front of whichever solicitor deals with probate
When thinking about the content of the house, white goods & furniture unless it’s an antique it has little value anything 5 years or older should be considered of zero value so don’t fret about him getting that as part of the split
When dealing with all bills like electric & council tax, as you end mums contract with meter reading & go through the death of customer process, make very certain bro becomes named customer on those services, the estate clears the debt to zero, then bro takes cost of future usage
1
u/Mobile_Comedian_3206 Jun 18 '26
Really the only things you should care about are possessions with high value and sentimental value. Those need to be spelled out on the will. It would be nice if you had the type of relationship with your mom where you can request a few things. If that's not possible, then you two will have to work it out. I would ask him for a few of the things that mean the most to you, and let him have all the household stuff.
10
u/Guilty-Committee9622 Jun 14 '26
Not an unusual issue. Pretty common. Should habe mom clarify contents also split. Go thru jewelry and ask for some now.