This Redditor grew up estranged from her relatives. But now that her parents and brother passed away, and she’s the sole inheritor of their estate, they’re worming themselves back into her life for money!
High School Sweethearts
OP’s (Original Poster) parents met in high school. However, due to race and religious differences, most of their family members disapproved of their relationship.
Only OP’s dad’s paternal grandparents somewhat accepted their relationship since they “weren’t particularly religious.” Unfortunately, the rest “basically made their life hell” until they turned 18 and were kicked out.
Standing by Each Other
Despite the challenges, OP’s parents stayed together and supported each other.
OP wrote, “My dad went to university while my mom worked. After he graduated, my mom went to university while my dad worked. They built a life for themselves, they got married, then they had my brother, and then me.”
Estranged Family Members and Religious Congregations
They’d see their paternal and maternal relatives during their respective congregations once in a while, as her parents were still mildly religious. Unlike their relatives, other people in the congregations never had a problem with OP’s parents’ relationship; only their family members had issues.
He wrote, “In these events, hellos were said just out of politeness so nobody knew if my parents were doing well.”
Alone in This World
Unfortunately, OP’s parents and her brother died seven years before this story was posted. She was 13 then, and the “equivalent of CPS” contacted her family members—her estranged relatives—to take OP in and care for her.
However, everyone refused. OP said, “They wanted nothing to do with me.”
Foster Care Nightmare
At that point, OP was going to end up in the foster care system. Fortunately, one of her classmates told her mom about the basics of OP’s situation.
As fate would have it, her classmate’s mom and stepdad were foster parents for little kids, and they decided to take OP in.
A New Family
A year later, they became OP’s legal guardians, and OP’s classmate is now one of her best friends.
She wrote, “They aren’t my parents, but they’re a close second.”
Falling Into Her Hands
When her parents and brother died, OP inherited everything that belonged to them; she had their money, house, cars, and more. OP added, “It’s part of the law that I couldn’t legally give anything—neither money nor items—to anyone until I was 18.”
Now OP’s attending university and is paying for it on her own using the inheritance she received.
What a Small World
A couple of months before this story was posted, OP was working on a group project. She and one of her groupmates had the same last name, but since it was a “rare” name, the two were immediately curious.
OP wrote, “At first, we thought it was a huge coincidence; one day, she asked me if I was related to Dad. I said yes, and she tells me she was the daughter of Dad’s brother. We were cousins.”
Conversations, Bonds, and a Budding Friendship
The two started talking and getting to know each other. Her cousin also knew what their family did to OP’s, and she apologized for how they acted.
Her cousin then talked about her scholarship renewal process and asked OP how she was paying for university. OP then shared that her parents had “really good jobs” that paid “very well” and joked that they had a “big savings account” and life insurance when they passed.
Greed and Entitlement
A week after that conversation, OP received a text from her cousin, apologizing in advance for what was about to happen. Then, there was suddenly a slew of calls, messages, emails, and more from family members asking about their share of the inheritance.
They said that in their family, “all inheritance is shared with everyone.”
Unending Demands
OP’s paternal relatives were also demanding OP return her dad’s watch. After all, it’s passed down to the family’s first son when they turn 15.
They told OP it should belong to a “male cousin” since “the line has been broken; it needs a new one.”
Unintentional Slip-up
OP also mentioned that her cousin explained everything was an accident. She didn’t mean to give her dad OP’s contact information.
She shared, “She was having a fight with her dad over university, and he brought up his ‘loser brother,’ to which she said he wasn’t actually a loser and told him what I told her about my dad’s life, but she says she didn’t mention I inherited anything, that was his conclusion.”
Snooping Through Her Contacts
When her cousin’s dad found out she and OP met, he took her phone, where OP’s number and email address were saved.
Her cousin was able to take it back to send OP an apology message, but then her dad saw what she did, took her phone again, and supposedly threw it in the toilet.
Dollar Signs Through and Through
In an edit, OP shared that she now understood that the equivalent of CPS in her country didn’t disclose the existence of inheritance when they called up relatives.
They would just ask if any of the child’s relatives would like to be responsible for those left behind. OP’s relatives said no and weren’t informed about the money, especially since they were not in OP’s parents’ will.
Blocking Them Off
OP doesn’t want to deal with her greedy relatives. At the same time, she doesn’t want to give them anything.
However, some of the items she inherited included a recipe book from her great-grandmother and other family heirlooms. She asked, “Am I the a**hole?”
The Community’s Pieces of Advice
For users, OP shouldn’t give in to her relatives’ demands. She shouldn’t indulge them, even if they only ask for a recipe book, since they will try to get her to give more.
A top commenter advised, “Not the a**hole. I would advise not giving smaller items like the recipe book to them because that will just give them a wedge to ask for more. I would speak with a lawyer to confirm your rights to your inheritance. Then if any relative contacts you regarding the inheritance, you refer them to your lawyer. I know someone who did this, and approaches from relatives stopped pretty quickly.”
Another said, “Get a lawyer, take those emails and texts and file a police report, get a restraining order. Also, keep that CPS report so that they know you were rejected by them as well. They wanted nothing to do with you; now make sure they are nothing to you.”
Restored Faith in Humanity
People also expressed their relief that good people like OP’s classmate’s parents still existed in this world. Given that, users reiterated that her estranged relatives deserved nothing from her.
“Firstly, I am so sorry for your losses and thankful for your classmate and her parents. That said, not the a**hole. Offer them exactly what they gave you in your time of need,” commented one Redditor.
Another Redditor wrote, “Not the a**hole. Block these people! They essentially abandoned and disowned your parents when they were teens. They aren’t entitled to a d*** thing!”
Do OP’s relatives deserve anything? What should she do?
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This post first appeared as She Refused to Give Her Estranged Relatives a Cut of the Inheritance She Received From Her Parents. They Abandoned Them and Made Their Life “Hell.” They Don’t Deserve a Cent! on Quote Ambition.
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