‘Really weird vibes’: This man says his wife’s grandma left them part of a multi-million dollar inheritance — but her parents think they ‘got skipped’ and want in on it. Ramsey Show responds

This tricky situation points to the importance of having proactive discussions around estate planning as a family. That way, if the couple knew this was the grandma’s intention for a long while, they’d feel less confused about whether they should share the money out of moral obligation.

Grandma’s wishes

Delony and Kamel both seem to agree that the caller probably shouldn’t give the parents a piece of the inheritance.

“There may be a reason why grandma was like, ‘I'm not leaving them any money, I'm going to leave it to the next generation,’” Delony said.

“They can feel all the weird vibes they want and be as mad as they want but this was not your decision and I would not give them a penny of this money,” Kamel added. “You don't have to gloat and hold it over them, but it's really not your money to give — grandma gave it to you.”

Family drama like this is common when a relatively large inheritance is left behind with surprising instructions. But it’s better to have an estate plan that may shock a few people than to not have one at all.

In fact, only 32% of Americans have a will, according to a 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Study from assisted living facilitator Caring.com. Of those who don’t have a will, 40% said it’s because they don’t have enough assets to justify it.

But Patrick Hicks, general counsel of digital estate planning company Trust & Will told Caring.com why this can be a flawed way of thinking.

“Wills and estate planning are essential for everyone, not just the wealthy. Every person over the age of 18 should have an estate plan, no matter their financial situation,” he told Caring.com. “Wills do more than handle financial assets – they allow you to control important healthcare decisions, designate what happens with your digital and social media assets and provide specific guidance on how and by whom minor children should be looked after in the event of an emergency.”