Daughter took care of elderly mother but inheritance all went to the son

It is true that parents have the right to give their property to whomever they want. However, this does not mean they should show undue favoritism, as this often leads to family conflicts.

I have witnessed many cases where siblings fought over inheritance, and those who demand bigger shares are not necessarily greedy or ungrateful but rather protective of their family’s assets.

For instance, I have heard of a son who tricked his elderly mother into signing over a piece of land. Despite living next to his mother, he refused to take care of her, pushing all responsibilities onto his sisters. As the eldest son, inheriting all the land and living next door, he should have taken care of her and the family house. However, he left this duty to his sisters, who were married and living far away, forcing them to return occasionally to take care of ceremonies and offerings.

Then there is another couple whose son was lazy and addicted to gambling but had a silver tongue. He constantly persuaded his parents to sell their land or transfer the ownership to him, and even took their land use certificates to take out loans. Eventually, another child had to step in and claim a share of the inheritance to preserve the parents' assets, ensuring they would still have a place to live.

In another case, an elderly couple divided their properties relatively equally. Their two older daughters received shares even though they were married, and the remaining land and house were given to the youngest son, who would live with and care for the parents. Everyone was satisfied. However, after the parents passed away, the youngest son, now with his own family, sold the house and allowed his wife's family to move onto the surrounding land.

After his untimely death, all the assets were inherited by his wife and children. Thus, the family’s property completely fell into the in-laws’ hands. The two older daughters now feel uncomfortable entering their parents' old house, as they no longer have any rights to it, but have to to carry out memorial ceremonies.

These examples illustrate why parents should distribute their inheritance equally among their children instead of favoring one over the others. Rights must be accompanied by responsibilities. Sometimes, the parents’ lack of fairness can lead to family discord.

Should children with more duties be entitled to a bigger inheritance?

Reader D Hien

*This opinion was translated into English by AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.