I'm writing this thread to seek information and/or advice regarding death, wills, and all of that fun stuff nobody really likes talking about. I'm
coming here because ATS has a lot of smart people(arguable) who may have had similar experiences and hopefully shed some light on this confusing
conundrum. Let me start by giving the details.
My brother and I have different fathers. I'm very estranged from my father for personal reasons. My father remarried a great lady, and they had 2
children together. My brother has a decent relationship with his father. His father remarried a nasty lady, but they had no children.
Now, I did see my father a couple of years ago when my sister had a 2nd wedding to celebrate 15 years of marriage. We tried seeing if much of a
relationship is there, it seemed like there could be, but he stopped communication after they left. Afterwards, my aunt sat me down and talked to me
about my father and his will. She claims that he spoke with her quietly(away from step-mom), and told her to tell me that when he passes away, I have
to contest his will.
That sounded so strange to me. Why should I contest his will?? If I have to contest it, does that mean I'm not in his will?? I understand if I'm
not, because we haven't known each other in 22 years. But, at the same time, I'm his first-born son, and thanks to his signing the birth certificate
without my mother, I'm a jr. because I have his name. So, that felt like a shocker, I'm not in my own fathers will. That really didn't help with the
issues I already had with him. After some time pondering on it, I decided I didn't care. If my own father didn't want to leave me anything in his
death, so be it, because it's not like he helped much during his life.
So that was it, I left it at that, but then my brother came to me with a similar situation. Since his dad is in the process of leaving his wife and
starting again with our mom, those two have had a lot of conversations regarding what needs to be done. His father told my mother that when he passes
away, that my brother has to contest his will. Now that came to me as a shocker as well, because my brother has had a decent relationship with his
father. Sure, it's not the greatest one, but they always kept in touch. So, that tells me that his wife must've convinced him at some time to leave
everything to her, none to anyone else. Sad part is, the only other person in his life is my brother, and his three children. That's part of the
reason why his dad wants to return here, he's old, lonely, and wants to be around his son and his grandchildren before he goes.
So now his father wants him to contest his will, just like my father wants me to contest my fathers will. It just makes me wonder, why?? Wouldn't it
be better to change your will before you die?? Or is this their way of not wanting to be bothered, and letting the living fight over scraps??
So, why would either of our fathers want us to contest their wills rather than actually changing them?? Does anyone know enough to shed some light on
this for me?? Thank you in advance.
edit on 25-1-2016 by Necrobile because: (no reason given)