My brother in law called. He got the bill for the cremation and it was $1900. I have no idea how much a cremation should cost.
Anyway, he can not pay the bill.
A little background on my brother in law and sister in law. They are both 59. He has owned his own business for about 20 years. He usually makes in excess of $100,000 a year and she works too.
They own a house on a lake and they bought all the surrounding lots. (They have since lost all the lots)
They have 12 cars and 5 horses.
They "had" to buy a $50,000 horse trailer. (It has sleeping quarters, a/c etc.) They can't make the payments.
They are still paying for their daughter's $50,000 wedding from 7 years ago. (She got divorced after 1 year.
They go on long trips to Disney world (2 weeks or more at a time) even though they live 1/2 hour away and could easily go home.
They can't pay their house taxes and have to redeem them at a premium each year.
FIL put all of his savings into their savings account about 20 years ago. (Why, I don't know, except she worked at a bank.) BIL and SIL spent it all.
Should we pay for the cremation or tell him to sell some of the antiques or antique cars (4) to pay for it? What would you do?
cremation costs
November 4th, 2015 at 03:28 pm
November 4th, 2015 at 03:38 pm 1446651504
November 4th, 2015 at 03:48 pm 1446652106
November 4th, 2015 at 03:55 pm 1446652521
November 4th, 2015 at 03:56 pm 1446652609
(Plus, a newer car, house furnishings, fenton glasswear collection, etc.)
November 4th, 2015 at 03:58 pm 1446652694
November 4th, 2015 at 04:01 pm 1446652889
November 4th, 2015 at 04:05 pm 1446653111
November 4th, 2015 at 04:05 pm 1446653143
November 4th, 2015 at 05:46 pm 1446659165
I agree with starfishy and MonkeyMomma. The estate can pay.
November 4th, 2015 at 09:42 pm 1446673332
November 4th, 2015 at 10:23 pm 1446675811
November 4th, 2015 at 10:51 pm 1446677487
November 5th, 2015 at 12:12 am 1446682327
If you choose to bury the crested remains, you can buy a 3 x 3 foot plot for $500, which can hold up to 2 sets of cremated remains.
If you choose to pay, make sure you see the actual bill.
November 5th, 2015 at 12:14 am 1446682490
November 5th, 2015 at 12:51 am 1446684688
Tell them you can't help.
November 5th, 2015 at 01:53 am 1446688407
If what your BIL is saying the will says really is true, if there are some things that your husband really wants for sentimental reasons, and if he feels that he wants to help with the final expenses, maybe he could negotiate something with your BIL, some kind of swap, like paying for the cremation costs (directly to the cremation company, NOT to the BIL) but only AFTER he receives some of the antiques. And I'd hope he'd put the agreement in writing.
While I know we're only hearing one side of the story, the BIL sounds like someone who always has his hand out.
November 5th, 2015 at 03:43 am 1446694998
November 5th, 2015 at 04:15 am 1446696904
November 5th, 2015 at 02:30 pm 1446733819
It sounds like this might partially explain the terms of the will- because your husband never asked for money and his brother is always "broke," his father might have decided to leave the money to the "needier" child. Of course it avoids hurt feelings if these things are discussed in advance, but it's not uncommon. My parents have already been told they are out of my grandparents' will because they have been very responsible over the years and don't need it, but two other siblings have no retirement savings at all in their late 50s.
November 5th, 2015 at 03:35 pm 1446737723
FIL was always talking about how middle son needed money and he sold his coin collection to give him money a few years ago. FIL blamed middle son's wife on all the money problems and wanted nothing to do with her. If I had a child who could not handle money, I think I would leave my money equally to both children, but in a trust for the spendy son, to be doled out a little each year to help pay for property taxes and house payments.