Genevieve’s sister believes she should inherit their mother’s entire estate because she took on most of the caregiving duties while their mother was ill with cancer. Genevieve lives across the country, has a full-time job, and is raising two kids, so she was unable to contribute much time to caregiving. Following their mother’s death, Genevieve is set to receive $223,000, half of the estate.
But her sister claims Genevieve doesn’t deserve this inheritance since she didn’t help much with their mother’s care. This type of situation is becoming more common as millions of American adults find themselves caring for aging or sick relatives. A report by SeniorLiving.org found that about 53 million adults in the U.S. are unpaid caregivers.
They help family members, spouses, or friends with daily tasks like bathing, cooking, and taking medication. When caregiving duties are not split evenly, it can lead to emotional strain and resentment between siblings. Disputes over inheritance can then cause major family rifts and even legal battles.
Ideally, these issues should be dealt with ahead of time. Parents could set up a trust to compensate the child doing the most caregiving.
Family rift over caregiving duties
Or they could leave certain assets, like the family home, just to that child. If the parent has already passed away, the siblings may need to use a mediator or go to court to reach an agreement. For example, Genevieve could offer part of her inheritance to her sister to compensate for her caregiving work.
Caregiving also has a big financial impact. Adult children often have to cut back work hours or quit their jobs to care for parents. AARP estimates that unpaid caregiving in the U.S. is worth about $600 billion.
Some government programs, Medicare, Medicaid, and employee assistance plans may provide support. Employers may also offer flexible work setups to help with caregiving duties. Planning ahead, such as getting long-term care insurance or health savings accounts, can ease some of these burdens.
To avoid conflict over caregiving and inheritance, families should prepare in advance. This can help preserve relationships and financial security. Navigating this difficult situation requires empathy, planning, and sometimes professional help.