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archive / 2005 / 11 / 22

Posted by Miriam on 2005-11-22 14:14:50 +0000

Stickin' it to me from the grave

Yesterday I got home from a 9 hour day at work to find the codicil and will that I asked my grandma's estate lawyer to send me. The week before, his assistant had sent a copy of the 2nd page of the codicil, which mentioned the 1.5% of the estate that my brother and I were to recieve after all debts, taxes, etc. had been paid. My dad and sister were entirely left out.

Upon reading the will and full codicil, I turns out that Grandma wrote the will on June 9, 2003. The codicil was written on Oct. 20, 2003. The will allocated 3% to my bro, 3% to my sis, and 4% to me.

I called my dad to ask if there were any significant family things between June and October 2003; he couldn't think of any. I thought of my neice, Shayna's birth. But that didn't seem like something to write us out for.

I then called my sister. She thinks it was changed because we didn't come to Grandpa's headstone unveiling.

Adam, my bro, didn't pick up the phone; I left him a message.

I'm thinking about calling my aunts to ask for an explanation. I know it's inviting trouble and more heartache, but I want to know why Grandma changed her mind in such a short period of time. Ugh.
Posted by pchippy on 2005-11-22 15:37:16 +0000
Trouble. Heartache.

Let it slide, I say. What's to be gained?
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-11-22 15:56:21 +0000
Earlier this summer, My dad's cousin Betsy, no children / no nieces or nephews, left her entire estate to Smith College and the Trinity Church in Copley; no money for relatives. As my aunt Jay said, "She always thought no one loved her."

Just let it go, Miriam.
Posted by Miriam on 2005-11-22 16:22:38 +0000
Y'all know me better than that. Of course I'm going to poke the crocodile in the nose. So what if I lose a limb. Prosthetics are really advanced these days!
Posted by frame609 on 2005-11-22 16:23:46 +0000
Imagine if someone you knew was deaf and you only had one hand to sign with, though.
Posted by Miriam on 2005-11-22 16:24:36 +0000
I'd carry pictures, or teach them how to read lips.
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-11-22 17:10:51 +0000
Ugh.
Posted by Miriam on 2005-11-22 18:33:39 +0000
Don't worry. I won't go into convulsions or anything. I just want to know what the deal was. It's such a stupid thing, and I know why my sis and dad were cut out, but don't know why there was such a big change in percentages. Seems a little off. I think my aunts had a hand in it and want to know for sure. Not that it makes a difference. I don't even really care about the money; it's the principle of the thing. I guess that's a money pun; totally unintentional. Y'all know what I mean. Can't let it go until I know.
Posted by Honar the librarian on 2005-11-22 18:40:04 +0000
If your aunts are responsible, why would you think that they'd tell you anything, much less the truth? Especially since it is unlikely to be flattering to them?

Even if they tell you what the rationale was, you'll probably still be left asking "what the fuck?" and have no idea about what goes on in their minds.
Posted by Miriam on 2005-11-22 18:58:01 +0000
That's a good point. But I was born asking "why" and can't see skipping this opportunity to stew about it a little. Besides, what's life without a little family drama?

<i>Math Rock is not a four letter word. It's two four letter words...</>
Posted by Miriam on 2005-11-25 23:45:52 +0000
Today my sister and grandma saved me from myself. I went to the mall with them to buy Grandma some pants with elastic waitbands. I didn't want to go, and was being kind of a freak, when my sister sat me down and asked what was up. I blubbered out all I was feeling about the whole will bullshit and that if felt like I didn't count because I didn't have a family or husband and that she and my bro had gotten help over the years to buy houses and go back to school and set up savings for their kids, and that I didn't begrudge them that, but it was all just too much to take and I thought that I was so miserable being in Knoxville because I was afraid that the longer I stay here, the closer I am to calling my aunts, which as you've all kindly pointed out wouldn't make anything any easier to take. What I'm trying to say is this: I love y'all. You're family. I'm thankful for you...even if I can't wait for all this Thanksgiving crap to end.

<i>Thanksgiving is for turkeys.</i>
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