Deceased Brother

[jennyjoan]

Long story here - but deceased brother had been fighting a bit of cause re himself having asbestos of which he just had a little and didn't die with it.

The case has been finished and myself and sister allowed other brother to keep the compo (it was £3,000) as he fought for it too in spite of his very bad health.

However, he bought myself and sister and deceased brother's girlfriend a locket - we brought it to her some time ago and since I do pretty much body language I told my sister she wasn't happy with it.

Even though gf has money - I know she would have liked the money as claimed to me at his funeral that if money ever came through that my brother had promised her £1,000 to her for a holiday.

The other twist to this is these two brothers never spoke for about 20 years some time back and the gf knows this. My sister claims she was not entitled to anything but I do think she could have got about £500 for her love to him.

I know you don't know all of the situation but what do other Abers think. thanks for contribution JJCon

[jennyjoan]

^^^^ she claimed

[ummmm]

I take it your brother left a will?

[jennyjoan]

no

[jennyjoan]

Ummmm - don't know how gf done it - but she did get any other monies he had - ie post office - she must have know his pin no - bank etc. She put the funeral over and my sister and I offered to help financially but she said she had enough. Some time prior to his death brother had wanted me to get him into CU and told me he was putting £2,000 in - this never happened as he backed out. None of us could ever understand how she got the money but we don't care about that. She wasn't a partner in that she wasn't living with him.

[mallyh]

how long was she with your brother ?

[jennyjoan]

About 17 years

[Brinjal]

If she was his partner then it would be fair to give her something. As you say £500. Or so would be nice.

[jennyjoan]

I agree Martine very much - but now the money is in the hands of my other brother who is pretty penniless and dying too - think he has kept it for his funeral - it would be like getting blood out of a stone. I on the other hand could afford maybe to give her £500 out of my own money but I am on the fence re that since I do know gf has plenty of money and unfortunately too sick to enjoy it now. God what a dilemma.

[ummmm]

She's already had money from his accounts. Isn't that theft?

They weren't married and they didn't live together so she wasn't dependent on him. I'd say whatever she's taken from his accounts is enough.

[jennyjoan]

Thanks Ummmm - that is totally what my sister says - she is more streetwise than me. She (sister) thinks that if she got all that money who is to say there was more. JJCon

[237SJ]

Well, she wasn`t family so legally, she`s not entitled to any of it. I think she should accept the locket in good grace and leave it at that. I wouldn`t be giving her any money and it sounds like she doesn`t need it anyway. (just my opinion)

[factor-fiction]

This threads hows the importance of having a will, but even if there is a will it's difficult to stop those who have access to PINS/login details helping themselves to money they shouldn't be touching

[Peter Pedant]

well you have put it in the law section
and it is clear that in law - the gf doesnt have a claim

you may feel that you want to give her some money
but that is not required in law

actually your decd brother did show gratitude for what she had done in buying and giving the locket and it is clear if he wanted to do something else he could have done at that time.

and yes I agree with FF
all this could have been avoided with a will
( or even a letter of intent, snce there isnt a lot of money at stake )

[joko]

i would not give her any of your money - as others have said she is not entitled to anything really so should be glad to have got anything

also if your brother has money in accounts etc, why cant you apply to get it?

then at least you will know if his gf has taken it