What Do I Do With Letters That Corroborate My Husband's Story?

Pricey Eric: My husband has been deceased for practically a decade. Lately, I used to be going by his leftover recordsdata.

For years he insisted that his ex-wife had lied to his kids, telling them that he deserted the household, didn’t need the youngsters and by no means paid baby assist.

I’ve discovered letters, from 60 years in the past, that his lawyer despatched to him verifying that he didn’t abandon the household however paid for airplane tickets for the ex-wife and 4 children to the coast the place his spouse’s household lived. Letters additionally verified that he was attempting to get custody.

What do I do with these letters?

Three of the 4 children had nothing to do with their father, besides to guilt cash out of him. He was requested to pay for weddings or journeys however not included in any of the household occasions. The ex-wife has been deceased longer than my husband.

Do I preserve the letters, burn them or contact the spouse of one of many kids to see if there’s any dialogue of their father over holidays and particular household occasions?

– Shared Historical past

Pricey Historical past: I perceive your impulse to set the file straight with the grownup kids. There’s a world the place this new info may be a consolation. However I believe the hazard of a extra unfavorable affect is larger. So, please maintain off on sharing the letters for now.

Since neither your husband nor his ex-wife is alive to offer the letters context or to assist heal the trauma of the separation, they might do extra hurt than good.

Moreover, had your husband wished to, he may have given the letters to his kids himself in some unspecified time in the future within the 50 years between their composition and his passing. No matter his causes for holding them personal, it’s higher to honor that with discretion.

Pricey Eric: My husband’s brother (by no means married, age 63) has been financially irresponsible so long as I’ve been married. He has collected tens of hundreds of {dollars} in money owed.

He at present has no addictions, no psychological well being points, and lives along with his mom who’s getting old however continues to pay for his requirements. He provides his cash away, and other people make the most of him. His dad and mom have all the time bailed him out and really feel like he’s a sufferer.

He went to school and has had regular jobs over his lifetime – he ought to have financial savings for retirement.

My concern is that, when my mother-in-law dies, my husband and I might be accountable for the brother and his money owed.

Any inheritance might be break up between the three siblings. This brother’s share of will probably be squandered and, being accustomed to having somebody bail him out, he’ll come to us.

My mother-in-law all the time tells the household that my husband’s accountability is for the household’s well-being and to care for everybody when she’s gone.

I don’t assume we’re accountable for the brother’s monetary fiascos due to her permissive mothering and assume he ought to lastly be accountable for his actions.

In good conscience, can we simply give him the instruments to handle his money owed and study to dwell with much less quite than paying off money owed to cowl his tracks? We’re coming into retirement and wish our earnings to dwell, and I’m too outdated to handle his wants, bodily, emotionally and financially.

– Burdened by Parenting Grownup Baby

Pricey Burdened: Whereas there are absolutely sophisticated household dynamics which may make your husband really feel accountable for his brother, and responsible if his brother fails to handle his funds, it’s not your accountability to handle his life now or sooner or later.

Speaking with him about his plans and serving to him entry instruments to price range and settle money owed is sort of sufficient.

What appears most urgent to a dialogue between you and your husband about your considerations? Are you aligned in your considering? For those who share funds however he’s tempted to bail his brother out finally, that is going to create a giant downside in your relationship. Nevertheless, if you happen to can speak it by now and give you a sport plan that meets your wants and your husband’s, you’ll be higher ready to educate your brother-in-law whereas sustaining a wholesome monetary and emotional boundary.

This might be sophisticated, nonetheless. He lives along with his mom, so there are going to be questions on him remaining in the home. If it’s left to all three siblings, then they’ll want to debate what’s truthful by way of protecting the prices of upkeep, any excellent mortgage funds and the like.

Your brother-in-law could also be accustomed to others bailing him out, however you may and may make it clear that there are different choices – debt counseling, monetary training, even conservatorship – that he should discover first.

Ship inquiries to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Field 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Observe him on Instagram @oureric and join his weekly e-newsletter at rericthomas.com.

Initially Revealed: February 26, 2025 at 2:25 AM PST

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