My husband is in hospice care. Friends say his children are lining up for his money. What can I do?

The Moneyist

‘None of the kids have ever helped with any of his care — and his health has been very poor for the last five years’

Last Updated: June 13, 2025 at 7:01 p.m. ET
First Published: June 12, 2025 at 5:15 a.m. ET

Dear Quentin,

My husband and I have been married for over 20 years. He had adult children when we married. We live in a different state from his kids for a number of reasons, one being we didn’t want to be involved in the drama from some of them. 

We drew up a will 10 years ago where we left everything to each other. The surviving spouse can then determine how much the kids would get upon their death. We are joint owners of all bank accounts, investment accounts, vehicles and our home. My husband is now in hospice care and it’s terminal. I have had to beg the kids to come in the last year or so, and they have never shown much interest in their dad or his health, until recently.