DEAR DEIDRE: AN elderly lady I befriended wants to leave me money in her will but I’ve only known her for a few months and it makes me feel uneasy.
I am a 27-year-old man. This woman is 87. I often walk past her house on my way to work.
At first she’d smile at me through her window and then one day she was in her front garden, and spoke to me.
She was really friendly. I didn’t really want to speak to her, but I did to be polite.
She came out a few more times to talk to me over the next month or so. Then she asked if I could replace a fuse in a plug for her kettle.
I obliged and felt sorry for her when she told me I was the first proper person she’d spoken to in weeks.
Her husband died years ago, and her daughters rarely visit or called her.
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It was heartbreaking to know she was so lonely that she’d resorted to speaking to me, a passer-by in the street.
I willingly helped her with other odd jobs afterwards and always made sure I stopped for a chat – but then she told me she planned to leave me £30,000 in her will.
I told her not to, but she insisted.
I’m worried people will think I’m a con-man who has taken advantage of a vulnerable, lonely old lady.
DEIDRE SAYS: As long as this lady is of sound mind there really should be no problem with her leaving money to whoever she chooses.
However, if she is serious and has taken steps to change her will, I understand your concerns about how that might look to other people – especially her family who may contest the will if it is in your favour.
While the money would be welcome, as a beneficiary you are under no obligation to accept a gift left to you in a will and you have the right to refuse it.
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