WIBTAH if I leave everything to my daughter and son in law in my will?
Dying Parent’s Will Sparks a 20-Year Family Divide
A terminally ill parent faces a heartbreaking inheritance dilemma between an estranged son and a daughter who never left their side.
A terminally ill parent is torn between a devoted daughter and an estranged son when deciding who deserves their final inheritance.
Let’s break it down
The backstory and early dynamics
The writer is dying from aggressive stage-4 cancer and is finalizing their will. They have two children: a daughter and a son. Twenty years ago, their relationship with their son completely collapsed when they couldn’t afford to pay for his college—despite having paid for his older sister’s education earlier.
At the time, the parent says they were financially ruined by bad investments and were barely able to keep food on the table. But the son saw the lack of tuition money as proof he wasn’t loved. At 18, he cut contact entirely—and never looked back.
The moment things shifted
While the son disappeared, the daughter stepped up. When the cancer diagnosis came four years ago, she became a constant presence. Hospital stays, treatments, emotional support—she was there for all of it.
She didn’t come alone. She brought her husband and children, turning hospital rooms into places of warmth and motivation. The son-in-law, in particular, became “like a son,” offering love, protection, and stability when it was needed most.
The final confrontation
Now, facing the end of life, the parent is deciding what to do with their estate. The instinct is clear: leave everything to the daughter and son-in-law—the people who never left.
The conflict is emotional, not legal. The parent still loves their son deeply and is heartbroken by the estrangement. But after 20 years of silence, missed milestones, and never meeting his grandchildren, it feels wrong to reward someone who “openly hates” them.
At the same time, cutting him out feels cruel—because he’s still their child.
The fallout
There hasn’t been an argument or dramatic showdown—just quiet devastation. The parent is left weighing guilt against gratitude, blood ties against lived reality, and love against fairness.
They describe the entire situation in one sentence: “This whole thing sucks.”
What Reddit Thinks
Likely verdict: NTA (Not the Ahole), with some mixed emotions**
Sample responses:
- “Inheritance isn’t about DNA—it’s about who showed up. Your daughter earned this.”
- “Your son made a choice for 20 years. Consequences don’t disappear just because you’re family.”
- “NAH. This is just tragic all around. But honoring the people who cared for you isn’t wrong.”
A Final Thought
Is fairness about splitting things evenly—or about recognizing who stood beside you when it mattered most?
