Inheritance laws are hurtful

Our French neighbours recently had much needed modernisation done to their spartan home to make it more comfortable in their old age. Both are well into their seventies.

Barely concealing his hurt, my neighbour told us his son had driven 100km to demand to know how much had been spent on the house.

I asked him why he would want to know? Imagine our astonishment when he told us that French inheritance law gave children the right.

He explained that what had been spent was technically part of their son’s legacy and asked if it was the same in England. I told him no, we could spend our hard-earned money as we pleased without the authority of our children.

I said we could make a will leaving our property and money to them and/or to good causes, in fact, to whoever we wished. Seeking to lighten the conversation, I joked that the family cat was getting it all.

"You English know how to live," he said, fighting back tears.

Is this part of the “custom and practice” that C. Walton says we should accept on the March letters page?
PA
By email