family inheritance abroad issue

ConfusedCal

Hi
A complicated story for opinions but trying to simplify.
Father and wife lived abroad for 14 years.  Wife died suddenly, they had mirror will made in that country and father inherited her estate. Father died 3 years later with no will recognised in the country. Estate therefore came under law of that country. 
Father and I were close, i visited twice yearly. Only sibling visited once, ever. 

For historical context: Sibling {profesional criminal} was charged with attempted murder of father and spent many years in prison, although time served and free for many years now.

On death of father, sibling agreed funeral arrangements and estate should be dealt with by myself due to no passport !?or knowledge of country, laws etc. In truth heirs have to present at the local police HQ to delare intention of inheritance.
 I arranged funeral (attended alone) hired Notary, real estate, caretaker and gardener for house etc. I may just add all this was during Covid, having to abide by lockdowns, testing, travel bans, dealing with british and foreign embassies and dealing with an insurmountable amount of red tape that it took with a death abroad at that time.
Sibling agreed I become executer of estate and sibling legally denounced any claim with verbal agreement I would share when finalised.

It took 2 years to be recognised and accepted as an heir in that country. Two years later It was finalised with the sale of fathers house.

Over 4 years I maintained the property, paid all bills, had constant and regular comminication with all involved, continued to visit twice yearly to inspect and meet legal teams etc. 

Initially sibling agreed a 60/40 divide. The 10% is allowance for all costs incurred to myself over 4 years including legal fees.
Share was paid, but sibling has now returned saying this was not fair and wants another 5%. He has already *disposed* of most of share.

I have refused.
Am I being unreasonable?

Voyager2002

You made an agreement, and kept to it. On what basis is there a request to vary the agreement?

(If you really want to put a lot of work into this, since the agreement to an unequal share was based on the extra work and expense that you did, you could calculate your total expenditure on the estate. Don't forget to include your time, valued at an estimate of your hourly wage. Include your travel expenses, and also the time that you spent travelling as well as the time actually caring for the property and unravelling the estate.)

Savvy_Sue

ConfusedCal said:

Am I being unreasonable?

On the face of it, no, but perhaps the more relevant question is: what can he do about it anyway? And will he do it?

RAS

In GB, legal costs, maintaining the estate and executor's reasonable costs would be paid by the estate before any disbursements. 

poseidon1

Savvy_Sue said:

ConfusedCal said:

Am I being unreasonable?

On the face of it, no, but perhaps the more relevant question is: what can he do about it anyway? And will he do it?

Well according to OP brother did time in clink for attempted murder of father, so who knows what he is capable of.

ConfusedCal

Thanks for the replies.
I have done a breakdown of costs, but there is still an excess of approx 2.5k.
Taking on board one reply it shouldnt be too hard to add further sundries such as airport parking, cost of petrol, travel time at an hourly rate etc
I also loaned father money to enable him to remain in the country due to their minimum savings rule, which I have recovered in the expences but not allowed for the interest paid as it was taken as an advance on my credit card to help him.
Sibling also had a past loan from father that he never repaid.

On a personal level I need to just say no.

Voyager2002

ConfusedCal said:

Thanks for the replies.
I have done a breakdown of costs, but there is still an excess of approx 2.5k.
Taking on board one reply it shouldnt be too hard to add further sundries such as airport parking, cost of petrol, travel time at an hourly rate etc
I also loaned father money to enable him to remain in the country due to their minimum savings rule, which I have recovered in the expences but not allowed for the interest paid as it was taken as an advance on my credit card to help him.
Sibling also had a past loan from father that he never repaid.

On a personal level I need to just say no.

You could present brother with your breakdown, and add on the sundries and your costs in interest, as explained above. You could mention that under English law, these expenses would/shoud be deducted from the estate before there is a disbursement.

poseidon1

Voyager2002 said:

ConfusedCal said:

Thanks for the replies.
I have done a breakdown of costs, but there is still an excess of approx 2.5k.
Taking on board one reply it shouldnt be too hard to add further sundries such as airport parking, cost of petrol, travel time at an hourly rate etc
I also loaned father money to enable him to remain in the country due to their minimum savings rule, which I have recovered in the expences but not allowed for the interest paid as it was taken as an advance on my credit card to help him.
Sibling also had a past loan from father that he never repaid.

On a personal level I need to just say no.

You could present brother with your breakdown, and add on the sundries and your costs in interest, as explained above. You could mention that under English law, these expenses would/shoud be deducted from the estate before there is a disbursement.

OP has pointed out his brother is a professional criminal ( so has no real interest in English Law beyond breaking it ), so one wonders to what extent someone with that mindset and lack of a moral centre,  is open to a reasoned presentation of what the OP has had to deal with in bringing the father's affairs to a conclusion.