Wills and not letting people know that is mentioned in it.

Location: Tennessee

Back in 1986ish, while my grandma was still alive, her and my grandpa sat down with each of their 4 kids (not real names) Phillip, Diane, David, Carol. Their spouses were present in the house but not in the room (everyone but David’s spouse decided it was best to just let family deal with this, but David’s spouse, Teresa is a nut job). The family decided to name the executor: Phillip. He was the most stable and oldest. The next executor was Philips Wife Gail.

At this point everyone agreed to Gail being the 2nd on the list. She was family, a sister to the kids. The only one who didn’t agree was Teresa, she wanted David listed. She pitched a fit. Well, Diane and Teresa exchanged words. Teresa shut up.

(This is 1st hand knowledge as me and my cousin were spying on them— I was 10)

The dividing of assets went in birth order. Once again, Teresa spoke up. She didn’t understand why they couldn’t go first, it was unfair, etc. Once Again, Diane told her off. So they went around the room… this went on…

The last thing decided was the house and the property. Unless someone needed a place to live, then they could live there and not have to pay for an indeterminate time, otherwise, it was to be sold. It was to be split 4 ways. Each kid get 1/4. They made a clause though, if a kid dies, then their child will get their parent’s share. If the offspring has 2 kids, they will split, etc. Everyone agreed. Except Teresa. She didnt think that was fair. She wanted it to be given to spouses as well. Diane chased her out with a broom and threw something at her. She never returned to the kitchen were this meeting was taking place.

The following year, my grandma died. 6 weeks later my dad died. Fast forward a LONG time….

My mom dies in 2002. Diane dies in 2005.

Grandpa gets older. Splits time between the 2 kids. He moves between Alabama and Colorado. Half the year in each. 2012 he dies.

I make the drive to TN (I live in Wyoming at the time). As soon as I arrive, I go straight to the funeral home (my aunt, uncle & their spouses and cousins) are all waiting on me to arrive. The only people not present are Diane’s kids (2 of them). My uncle David reads the will. I was told what I would receive, but everything listed, there is a caveat ( my uncle says stuff like Grandma’s antique French bedroom furniture – “if you want it, you will have to fight Jules for it, b/c its in her bedroom” (jules is my 5 yr old cousin, his adopted daughter). ).

The only thing I receive that day is my Dad’s wedding band that my grandpa had. My uncle later asks me to borrow it to have it appraised bc he “knew someone” and he would send it to me.

Nothing is mentioned about the stuff for my cousins or their portion.

Months later after the house sells, I mention this to my aunt, when am I getting my portion of the proceeds. And she responds “Pop loaned me money before he died, so that is what happened to the selling of the house, there isn’t anything left.”

A few months go by, I mention this to my uncle, not saying I spoke to my aunt. he replied “he had medical bills that had to be paid.” Okay what about my ring? He immediately got off the phone.

This is how its been for over a decade now. No will was ever filed in probate. Nothing ever done “legal”. One of my cousins never knew about the clause that they were to get their mom’s share. My aunt and uncle purposely left them out. I didn’t know until this week that it was never filed in probate court.

I brought it up with my aunt and she called me greedy and said that there was no money when they sold the house. That they didn[t get anything for it. That the ring was none of her business.

My uncle refuses to speak to me since I let my cousins know how they had been scammed by their greedy aunt and uncle. My aunt once told me that me and my cousins would just waste the money if we were given it. So they decided to keep it. WTF?

Do I have any recourse? Or am I really just greedy like my aunt says at this point?

Thanks?

(this is the same aunt and uncle who kept my dad’s suicide note he left a secret from my mom, so she never knew).