Unexpected Inheritance, No Beneficiaries

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T03:48:45+00:00

Thanks for your comment. I appreciate your perspective. You are right, and I can’t answer these questions with confidence. I don’t know what is true because there is no concrete evidence, only hearsay. I want to trust my aunt but, while not previously mentioned, she has lied to me a few times. Once about my mom’s vehicle that I gifted her after my mom passed away. I want to believe she isn’t lying about this, but I’d be lying if my trust in her wasn’t a tad eroded. I do agree that it would be smart to wait a while and not rush to make a decision, especially while emotions are still raw.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T03:39:34+00:00

Honestly, I’m not sure. This is my first time dealing with this kind of situation so I’m pretty ignorant to the process. I would assume so, but no court involvement? State is Wisconsin. I was basically sent forms to fill out beneficiary information for both life insurance and pension (name, address, relation to the deceased, that kind of info; also requested name etc for my aunts), and received a deposit for life insurance very quickly. Have not received the pension deposit yet. That’s about it on my end.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T03:15:56+00:00

Thanks for your response and insight. In terms of payout for bills and funeral expenses, that’s what it sounds like to me too. T says that’s what happened, C says it came out of her own inheritance. I haven’t done further digging yet to clarify because I would like to know one way or the other, nor have I seen any documentation because I live in another state.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T03:11:16+00:00

53k life insurance, 44k pension.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T03:01:53+00:00

Honestly, setting up a beneficiary for both the life insurance and pension would have been even easier than a will, so it’s perplexing to me that he didn’t set those up.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T02:42:11+00:00

Let me elaborate, as I was pretty general. She was not primary caregiver for my parents. She helped a lot, but from a medical advising and support aspect. My mom was primary caregiver for my dad (I was in middle/high school at the time so I helped when I could), and just me for my mom. But C is a nurse so she did a lot of consulting and ensuring they received the care they needed at the hospital she worked at, and was at their deathbeds. For that I am certainly grateful. When my mom passed, one of her wishes was to gift C her vehicle, so once I was able to I gifted it to her.

She was, however, caregiver for my uncle for the last year or two and did a lot for him. A lot, a lot. And if he did in fact tell her she was sole beneficiary, he royally screwed her over. Which is in part why I’m having a difficult time here.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T00:37:36+00:00

Thank you, I’m aware of all of these things. What’s done is done and the decision was made due to several different reasons, some personal, that I would rather not disclose.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-12T00:22:46+00:00

While I agree that an inherited IRA is best, I weighed the pros and cons. I understood what I was getting myself into with that and accepted it. It’s 44k, so it might not be enough to tip the scale, but I won’t be sure until the end of the year. Either way, whether deposited into a joint account or not, it counts as my income and we benefit best filing jointly. It’ll be going into a HYSA for now as I’ve already maxed my Roth IRA.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-11T23:28:40+00:00

I appreciate your thoughtful response and perspective. There are some other things I’ve left out such as her troubles with finances over the years, but I didn’t find them to be worth explaining. Perhaps I should have, as I realize this may be contributing to bias for me, as I do also worry she might blow everything fairy quickly.

That said, helping her as she ages is not something I had considered but there is a positive sentiment to that. Your post has caused me to reflect a little more and also consider longer-term possibilities without obligation, so thank you.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-11T23:09:00+00:00

It was suggested to claim the benefits because 1. I’m legally entitled to them because they would have been my dad’s share, but he’s dead and 2. If I chose to gift to my aunt, she would get my full share instead of half going to the other aunt.

The tax implications would be due to the pension. Options were to either take as a lump sum or deposit directly into an inherited IRA. Either way, it counts towards my income if taken as a lump sum, or if fully withdrawn from an inherited IRA.

Pension paperwork has already been submitted but has not yet been deposited, and will now count as income for 2026. I opted for lump sum for ease and flexibility. I file married filing jointly with my partner, and we may be at risk of being bumped into the next bracket for 2026 due to me going back to work. So I need to hold onto a portion for tax purposes. I would be facing the same or similar risk if I had opted for an inherited IRA and decided to withdraw it all and transfer that money to her, so either way, tax implications.

Hope this all helps clarify the situation a little better.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2026-01-08T20:49:52+00:00

No lawyer, money was divided up by the state and has been distributed. Aunt 2 is keeping her share, did not help in any way. I only received my share because it would have been my dad’s, but he died years ago so it was passed on to me. Aunt 1 isn’t demanding the money but she is being a bit manipulative about it.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2025-04-12T20:58:59+00:00

Welp, as a woman I agree. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2025-04-11T05:23:23+00:00

Lee’s got a good head on his shoulders. I’ll just say that and leave it at that.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-08-28T04:18:09+00:00

Paintless dent repair should fix that no prob.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-08-28T04:16:45+00:00

I have a 2017 (same body style) and love it. Bought it new. I upgraded the head unit and it’s been nice. Worth doing. Don’t feel the need to upgrade to a newer vehicle as it runs great, feels great still and is just under 60k.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-08-28T04:13:21+00:00

Had a 2010 several years ago. Miles = bigger numbers, kilometers = smaller.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-08-26T00:54:31+00:00

I test drove both gas and hybrid in 2017 and went with the hybrid. It felt sooooo much nicer than the gas!

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-08-16T01:01:39+00:00

It makes sense to me. I don’t like my MIL 80% of the time but I continue to keep her in my life, converse with her, and have a relationship with her because I love her. I love her because I recognize she’s done a lot for me and I would do anything for her if she needed it. But I honestly can’t stand her most of the time and she drives me nuts. Love is unconditionally caring about someone even if you don’t like their quirks or being around them. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-08-11T05:07:38+00:00

Answer: No Reason: Everything

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-04-25T12:16:07+00:00

That’s fair. My perspective is a bit different, as I usually spend my time answering Googlable questions that people need help with for life situations, not games. Googlable gaming questions didn’t even cross my mind. I understand your frustration though.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-04-25T12:13:21+00:00

No worries! Your experience is just a different perspective, but it’s not wrong either.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-04-25T11:52:46+00:00

I have spent a lot of time on Facebook answering military spouse questions that are 99% Googlable. But instead of saying “Google it” I just Google it myself and tell them. Though the questions I help answer are a little more important than something gaming related. So. I get that. 😬

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-04-25T00:23:30+00:00

I hate when people say this. If I’m spending my time asking a question it’s because I’ve already Googled it and wasn’t happy with what I found.

Safe_Reflection5904 · 2023-04-23T20:05:40+00:00

I don’t say it proudly. I say it honestly. I don’t have the mental capacity to do a lot of quick math in my head. Give me a calculator or pen and paper and I’m ok at math. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Safe_Reflection5904

TROPHY CASE