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Brother inherited farm and does nothing

  • 02-12-2025 12:11PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭


    I have Something that has been bothered me for a long long time and I need advice.

    Basically my parents transferred the family farm which consists of 2 farms to my brother when he was in his early 20s and the only thing that is not transfer to him but is being left to him is the actual house in which my mother turning 80 Lives in. House is in the middle of the family home farmyard and then there's the out-farm which is the bigger of the two farms which my father inherited and consisted of centuries old farm buildings and he knocked down and built a modern dairy farm and took it a huge loan and him and mam worked their asses off to pay back.

    I was delighted that my brother got the farm as did my father and his father before him. That's not the issue. The issue is that he never wanted the farm and felt as the only son he had to just go along with it which is not great when he was a A class honours student and could have been anything. Unfortunately he also suffered abuse as a child which has never ever been talked about and had never been confirmed officially but myself and my sister know and its had had longterm mental illness effect on him.

    When my dad died some years back he tried to sell up the out-farm and all land just leaving only the family home farm and a few acres around it and he was badly messed around by the purchaser and he withdrew and has rented it out since. The farmer is unreal and keeps the whole place perfectly. But the problem is that the family home farm and surroundings area is just let go. My father would turn in his grave after all the years of work he and mam put into building the family home farm up to a first class . All the machinery, the out houses all over grown, part roofs blow off, I could go on and on and my poor mother wouldn't say a thing. He keeps a few cattle at the family home farm but my mother actually looks after them, and he had to test them 2 months ago and he used the old tractor and gates to make an enclosed area in from of her house and had just left them there in her lovely yard that was picturesque little years and his back had a pulled muscle so he went move them. 2 bloody moths and my husband offered to take them all down and move tractor and he said no. She's like a young one thank god and is very active. But she just turns a blind eye to it all. But what is really annoying me is that because I live beside her (my brother and sister live 2 miles away) it's just automatically expected that we paint her walls, cut the ditches on the lane, spray the lane for weeds, look after the entrance dien at the road, and any other bits to be done and I'm getting sick of it as it's not mine. My husband is working long hours and is looking after his own mothers place as well as our own house and mam just keeps saying...I must ask him about this and about that... but she's loaded and I'm so tempted to say to her mam, can you pay someone to come do these jobs, she has a mam come cut her grass, it's a free service, but she don't want to ask him to do anything either even though he's allocated to her for an hour, she only get him to cut the grass. She wants her two story house gable wall painted, she wants the facia cleaned but won't ask him to get up on a ladder but she'll ask my husband and its pissing him off too as it must be lovely for my brother to Swan in and out and do nothing. May I add to the picture that neither my brother or sister or their spouses work as they were all left inheritance and are living very very comfortably and I'm delighted for them. My brother passed me painting the walls at the end of the farm lane once and while yes I do use that entrance i have a right of way but I have my own entrance off the lane, but my sister uses it every day to call to see my mother, my brother uses it, everyone uses the entrance to go over to mam's and HIS FARMYARD that he owns but does nothing with but he stopped and just said, that's a great job your doing, and headed off to town for his lunch and I thought am I a gom or what.

    Anyway, what should I do. Should I call a meeting between siblings and just say like do they realise that everything is looking great over the years because we've done it but I think it's time my brother took responsibility for his property. Like last year mam mentioned to him that the houses in the yard needed painting and he even had the cheek to contact me, I work 5 days a week, and said would you all come togther and paint the farm yard buildings, I said I'd ask my son to do it when he was off for summer from college, even though he was going to be working for the summer and he said OK and my mother paid him a few pounds. Like I say he suffers with mental health and what happened him as a young lad is so sad, I don't deny that, but he is able to Swan around with his dog all day, he's off to dublin etc he's not sick at home or anything, he's so self absorbed that you wouldnt believe it and my poor mother is afraid to open her mouth to him. And when I say he's anal about everything I actually wonder some times is he on the spectrum.

    Help, what should I do, keep my mouth shut or try have a peaceful talk to them. Its driving me wrong.

    Ps. This rant had been therapeutic for me so thanks for reading

    Tagged:


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,270 ✭✭✭ruwithme


    I'll get back to you in the new year, when I've finished reading it.

    It's a long one. Bit of digesting in it



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,334 ✭✭✭Jb1989


    No answer for you, but rest assured your not the the only one that has had annoyances due to inheritance and such, believe me.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 783 ✭✭✭WildWater


    Quite a bit to unpack there @Halladubha72 and I'm pretty sure I got confused in the middle but anyway…

    On the whole, I think you have to make peace with the immediate and future impacts of the decisions that your folks have made. Tough as this may sound, but your father turning in his grave is on him not you. And the current manner in which your mum accepts everything, is on her not you. The implications of that are what, I respectfully suggest, you need to make peace with. Even with the daily reminder of decay on your doorstep.

    The reality is, you have zero ownership interest in the property. At present, you have a non-ownership interest in the property, but only in respect to your mum's welfare. However, as she is 'like a young one' the extent to which she requires advocacy is questionable. Her life, her choices.

    Obviously, I get the emotional connection for both place and people but facts are facts. Yes, maybe your brother is unable to cope and requires assistance, but I would be drawing the line at organisation. I would offer all manner of assistance with respect to emotional support and organisation, but draw a very clear line at the provision of labour or expense. All the issues that you see (others clearly are less bothered) and have previously undertaken to sort out, can be addressed by hired services. You need to stop! No ifs, buts, or maybes about that.

    You can present a vision of how the place can be, and how it can be done but your brother has to pay for it. Personally, I don't think he will buy into that vision, but at that point you have more than fulfilled any obligation that you might have had.

    The likely sad reality is that all you are a achieving through all your labour and expense is a delay of the inevitable.

    In short, my advice is get busy living your own life.

    I wish you the very best.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 136 ✭✭Farney Farmer


    Great advice from wildwater. Looks like you’re fighting a losing battle. Look after yourself and your own and leave them to it.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,214 ✭✭✭I says


    Walk away for your own sanity. Go quietly and say nothing. If you’re withdrawal of work around the place isn’t notice in six months it was never appreciated in the first place.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,420 ✭✭✭wildwillow


    I am going to be blunt. Let it go. Back off and do not be available for anything. It is not your problem. You have got yourself in a self-perpetuating cycle of taking responsibility.

    The daughters in a family will often neglect their own families for a needy or wayward brother who has everything but "can't cope"

    Concentrate on your nuclear family and enjoy the freedom.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 19,658 ✭✭✭✭_Brian


    The advice above is good. It’s hard but back off and let them at it.
    My wife had to step back and watch her brother run the whole home farm into the absolute ground, we took in her mother and looked after her as she couldn’t live in it it had got so bad.

    Look after yourself and your family, visit your mother and make sure she’s welcome to your house.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,454 ✭✭✭standardg60


    As everyone has said, withdraw from the situation entirely, you bear no responsibility for the upkeep of the farm.

    Don't bother calling a meeting with your concerns either, as you'll just be accused of meddling. Leave them to it, up to them if they want to hire people in, or let the place go to wreck and ruin.

    Knowledge is learning something, wisdom is learning from it, intelligence thought of it first.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 264 ✭✭Austinbrick


    Well done for getting that off your chest.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭Halladubha72


    I just want to say a huge thank you for reading my long long rant and for giving time to respond. I really appreciate it 🙏 ❤



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 4,694 ✭✭✭kk.man


    Quite a bit to unpack there @Halladubha72 and I'm pretty sure I got confused in the middle but anyway…

    On the whole, I think you have to make peace with the immediate and future impacts of the decisions that your folks have made. Tough as this may sound, but your father turning in his grave is on him not you. And the current manner in which your mum accepts everything, is on her not you. The implications of that are what, I respectfully suggest, you need to make peace with. Even with the daily reminder of decay on your doorstep.

    The reality is, you have zero ownership interest in the property. At present, you have a non-ownership interest in the property, but only in respect to your mum's welfare. However, as she is 'like a young one' the extent to which she requires advocacy is questionable. Her life, her choices.

    Obviously, I get the emotional connection for both place and people but facts are facts. Yes, maybe your brother is unable to cope and requires assistance, but I would be drawing the line at organisation. I would offer all manner of assistance with respect to emotional support and organisation, but draw a very clear line at the provision of labour or expense. All the issues that you see (others clearly are less bothered) and have previously undertaken to sort out, can be addressed by hired services. You need to stop! No ifs, buts, or maybes about that.

    You can present a vision of how the place can be, and how it can be done but your brother has to pay for it. Personally, I don't think he will buy into that vision, but at that point you have more than fulfilled any obligation that you might have had.

    The likely sad reality is that all you are a achieving through all your labour and expense is a delay of the inevitable.

    In short, my advice is get busy living your own life.

    I wish you the very best

    Plus 1. Im dealing with something similar, I've learnt people don't change just walk away from the work side and say nothing for your own sanity. Its hard but don't give it space.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭DJIMI TRARORE


    Try selling the whole lot again



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,998 ✭✭✭older by the day


    Like said above say nothing.

    When mom asks about painting or cleaning have the work man's number on a card and tell her ring, as your own husband haven't time.

    Learn to say no. It feels bad at first, but it's the best word in this situation.

    Recognise You have no control as you are not the owner, so let it go.

    Be polite and love your relatives but let the place go to shiite. It's not yours



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,882 ✭✭✭weatherbyfoxer


    Id pull back to be honest,like there is plenty of ways that the other people in you family can do all those jobs or pay others to do them.You and your partner sound like your being taken avantage of."no i cant do that..im too busy!"..is a phrase that both of you need to practice using



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 3,758 Mod ✭✭✭✭K.G.


    Maybe the first thing you have to do is accept things as they are.the next is access the priorities and if I put a list of your own family's welfare ,your mother's welfare,your brothers welfare and the state of the yard I suspect we know what would come last.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,140 ✭✭✭SupaCat95


    I didnt say this is right but it was your fathers decision to leave the whole farm to your brother.

    That is your brothers responsibility. Maybe when people are constructing wills, they should ask people what they want. I also come from the holistic understanding that the farm is its own entity in country family life (not to be split or constantly subdivided). Yes your brother has been a poor steward of the farm. Legally it is his, the same as your fathers to do what he likes.

    In reality I think your father gave too great a responsibility to your brother to shoulder. I have no different advice from the posters above than to withdraw and focus on your own immediate family.



  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 4,929 Mod ✭✭✭✭Siamsa Sessions


    When you're trying to keep too many plates spinning, sometimes you just have to step back and leave them fall.

    If the yard goes into a worst state, so be it. Maybe it has to hit rock bottom before things start to improve. If that happens, you'd be surprised how much tidying would be done by a man on a digger in a few days.

    More immediately, you need to strengthen your position. Withdraw your services for a few weeks. Tough it out day by day.

    Stay on here on the farming forum too. There's plenty support and goodwill, and plenty who are in similar situations with families, farms, elderly parents, money, etc. - all normal stuff (unfortunately).



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