Woman and sister inherited grandfather’s house, sister wants to take it without paying woman her share: ‘It felt like she was guilt-tripping me into just giving up my share for nothing.’

Author image for Baiz Hoen
Baiz Hoen
Jan 24, 2025 1:00 PM EST

If you have siblings, you know that one of the first lessons you learn is that "sharing is caring." Your favorite toy, the TV remote, that shirt that you care about more than anything in the world. All of these things are fair game with siblings as long as you promise to give them back all in one piece. With siblings, there also comes the act of coveting. Their things always seem better and more desirable, and soon, all ideas of fairness go out the window because, of course, how is it fair that they get to have that perfect thing when you do not? That's when that favorite toy mysteriously breaks, or that shirt suddenly disappears, and soon you're in hot water wondering how the green-eyed monster got you here in the first place.

One would hope that sibling rivalry would subside as we reach adulthood, but that is not always the case. This woman, for example, is in quite a predicament with her sister regarding their grandfather's inheritance. There are lots of questions of fairness, of what is rightfully ours to keep, and of what constitutes "keeping the peace" for the sake of family relations. Is she right to stand her ground? Or should everyone just get over it and move on?


 

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  • 01
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    via Olivier Guillard
  • 02

    "AITA for getting into a heated argument with my sister over our grandfather’s inheritance?"

    Okay, so here's the situation. A few months ago, my sister Emma and I inherited a country house from our grandfather. It's a nice house, but it's in a remote area, and neither of us live close enough to take care of it. Plus, it would've been a huge strain on us to pay for taxes, maintenance, and all that. We both agreed that selling it and splitting the money was the most sensible option. We weren't attached to the place and figured it would be better off in someone else's hands.
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  • 03
    But then, out of nowhere, Emma decides she doesn't want to sell anymore. She says the house has "sentimental value" and that it's "part of our family's legacy."
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  • 04
    Which, okay, I get it, but this house wasn't even something we grew up in. Our grandfather had been living there alone for years, and we barely spent any time there. It didn't feel like "home" to either of us. So, I was caught off guard when she suddenly changed her mind.
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  • 05
    I told her that if she really wanted to keep it, I'd be okay with that, but I'd need her to buy me out. I'm not asking for some crazy amount, just what's fair. Half the value of the house. She totally flipped out. She said I was being selfish, that I was all about the money, and that "family should stick together." It felt like she was guilt-tripping me into just giving up my share for nothing.
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  • 06
    Honestly, I was just trying to be reasonable. If she wants to keep the house, then she should take on the responsibility of it, including paying for it. I don't think that's too much to ask. But she's adamant that she won't pay me out, and now she's acting like I'm some kind of villain.
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  • 07
    It's gotten really heated, and now our parents are involved, trying to "mediate" the situation, but they're mostly just telling me I should let it go because "it's just a house" and "family is more important than money." I get what they're saying, but I don't think I should just walk away from something that's mine.
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  • 08
    So, AITA for standing my ground and demanding my half of the house, even if it's causing all this drama with my sister?
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  • 09

    The commenters were quick to take this woman's side

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    via Yaroslav Muzychenko
  • 10
    No you're absolutely right. Why would you give up your part of the inheritance? That's crazy and it's crazy your parents don't get that.
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  • 11
    NTA. If you give your sister full ownership, she's going to turn around and sell it. She's trying to sucker you out of your inheritance.
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  • 12
    NTA at all you only want what's fair! Your sister is the AH for goinh bavk on your agreement
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  • 13

    Some people had no faith in the sister's intentions

    She'll sell it immediately after you sign off on it. Then she will have ALL the money. Have a professional assessment done of the house. Let her know if she wants to go to court over it, she will have to buy you out, or you will be forced to sell the house and split the money. But with lawyers fees included.
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  • 14
    For everyone else - "it's just a house" and "family is more important than money." - they can help her buy you out. It's that easy. NTA
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  • 15

    And some were quick to get the law involved

    Call a lawyer, let them work out the ownership and they will inform your sister AND your parents, that sis needs to buy you out. Just do it all above board and not because....fammmmiiilllyyy
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  • 16
    NTA. It's your inheritance, your money. If your parents. think "it's just a house" and "family is more important than money", let them buy you out. They can decide "family is more important than money" when it's their money.
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  • 17
    NTA Tell your family, "It's just a house. Why is she choosing it over her family?" Don't give in. She has to buy you out if she wants to keep it. Do you think she might be planning to rent it out with Airbnb or something? At the very least, some people get an ego boost by offering their "vacation home" for status.
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  • 18
    NTA Your response is perfectly reasonable. Time to hit up a lawyer. Not a lawyer, could be wrong on the term, but pretty sure this is a clear case of your sister commiting conversion. She's holding onto your part of the inheritance without your consent.
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  • 19
    NTA The "it's only a house and money shouldn't come between family" could equally apply to your sister.
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  • 20
    As so often happens, when someone passes away, some people think that family drama is the necessary next step.
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  • 21
    You each inherited half a house. Neither of you care about it especially, it has no real use to you, so you sell it, and use the money wisely. So simple a small child could understand.
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  • 22
    Out of nowhere your sister basically demands to keep it and con you out of your half of it, and then tries to play the blame game, family card, and using family members to leverage you into just letting her steal half of it.
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  • 23
    Most of us would like to have various random properties, that we could just visit on a whim and be independently wealthy. But life isn't like that for most of us.
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  • 24
    If she wants the whole house, her only option is to buy out your half of it. Pure and simple. And your parents are being ridiculous for even entertaining siding with her. And for her to be so selfish and so unreasonable, and have the b lls to call YOU out for YOUR greed is extraordinary.
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  • 25
    There is no scenario where you should back down here. And if she truly loved you, cared about you as family, then SHE would not be creating all this drama. The house needs to be sold, either to some third party, or by her buying out your half of it. End of story.
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  • 26
    Also, I'd venture that if you give her an inch on this, discount it, offer to let her buy it out for less than half it is worth or any other deal, she absolutely will exploit that. So you must stand firm.
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  • 27

    Very subtle...

    It's just bricks a mortar. Sell it. No one wants to "preserve" it. Get as much as you can out of a ded man's existence. He's not coming back.
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