My father disinherited me and my siblings almost 10 years ago. [View all]

[no_hypocrisy]

Years ago, my parents partitioned 50/50 the property and house where I grew up.

Mom died and left her half to me.

Dad died and left his half to four charities. No $$ to me. Gave me a life estate to his half, meaning if I died or sold the property, the four charities would get half of the proceeds of the sale. For ten years, I alone carried the burden of paying the property taxes, paying for repair and maintenance, and paying to restore the house from its decrepit state.

OK, so I sold the house for a good price last June. Worked with the four charities during the sale. It is what is/was.

However, feeling unsettled about being disinherited, I decided to volley the ball back over the net.

I asked the charities to use every cent of my father's donation solely for their projects, e.g., scholarships, research, new programs, etc. and not to dedicate even a plaque with my father's name to memorialize his largess.

Yes, they were taken aback, as a lot of donations have a qualification of remembering a donor. And they were gratified. And so was I.

Am I petty? Perhaps. OTOH, the charities had their money. Obviously, I couldn't address my father for his testamentary choice. I feel/felt that I could move on.