Woman Wants to Ignore Her Mom’s Dying Wish for Her Diamond Ring

A woman is considering defying her mom’s dying wish to keep the peace with the rest of their family.

In a post on the U.K.-based forum Mumsnet, she explained that her grandmother left her mom a diamond ring when she died 47 years ago. She said her “very old and frail” mother has now voiced that she wants the heirloom to be given to one specific niece.

However, her mom has several other nieces who will be left feeling hurt when they aren’t given anything, regardless of any reasoning. 

“For clarity, the Will states that I inherit everything,” the woman said. “The matter of the ring is verbal instruction from my mom, not explicitly stated in the Will. I don’t want the ring. It holds no sentimental value for me.”

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The woman said she wants to convince her mom that her plans for the ring are “unfair.” 

“Personally, I would like to sell the bloody thing and give the money to charity when the time comes,” the woman confessed. “But that would also cause an uproar. 

“My cousin asked my mother to show her the ring today. Awkward as she is not the niece that mom intends to bequeath the ring to,” she continued. “I need to have a conversation with my mom. Knowing my mom, she won’t have the balls to explain her wishes to the wider family and I will get the fallout.”

She added that “the last few months, I have had a basis of my mom saying one thing to me and another to my cousins. She’s been quite two-faced and I’ve felt played.”

“Sorry that turned into a rant. What would you do?” the woman asked, before revealing in a follow-up comment that the ring is valued at less than $1,000.

Responses to the post were divided with several people advising the woman to sell the ring and split the money among the nieces, while others argued she should follow her mom’s instructions.

“If she wants one niece to have it, then give it to her. Give the others a piece of jewellery each as well,” one person commented. “It doesn’t have to be worth the same. Jewellery is sentimental. For passing on, not selling.”

“Could your mom make a short video (with help of course), only to be played after her death, that expressed her wishes?” another suggested. “She would be assured no one would see it until she’s gone, but it would then be clear that this was not your decision at least?”

“I think I would just say to your mom that you don’t agree with doing that,” a third said. “So if she wants to pass her ring on to a particular person, then she needs to do it herself while she’s alive, or put it into her will. Otherwise, you will do what you see fit with the ring if you inherit it.”

The same person added, “That’s what normally happens with inherited things! Your mom doesn’t actually have the right to force you into doing something that will cause so much bad feeling. You are allowed to say no.”