Inheritance and taking care of elderly parents in Poland

My wife is Polish. She has two other sisters, one of which lives with her parents, along with her husband and two kids.
My mom (in the U.S.) died recently, and we got to talking about inheritance. In my family, shares were/are split equally among kids.

She tells me that when the time comes for her own parents, she and her other sister who doesn't live there will sign the house over to the sister who lives there now without compensation. She claims that it is because her sister will take care of her Mom when she gets too old to do it herself (if that time ever comes).

But, she currently has lived there free rent and free childcare for 9 years. Seems like she gets the top end of the stick. Is this normal in Poland?

As far as taking care of dying parents... my sister did the bulk of the work without expecting any additional compensation. The rest of us helped as much as possible both time and geography wise.

You sound really grasping - does it really bother you that a woman on the other side of the world to yourself, and looks after her elderly parents 'lives rent free'?

Please do not be planning for your inlaws' deaths - you be dead yourself tomorrow.

I have to agree that you sound greedy and callous. Best to keep your mouth shut and let your wife's family handle this in their own way. Your input has almost certainly not been solicited, and it will definitely not be appreciated by any of the parties involved.

* sorry I meant 'you could be dead' - or it sounds like a curse!!

Terence, I'm surprised at your attitude, with an Irish name. I'd expect you to be a bit more generous. It's common practice in Ireland for the one who stayed home with the aging parents to inherit the house.

It's normal everywhere, I think. If someone is putting the effort in (and let's be honest - unpaid care is very, very difficult) - then it seems fair enough that they get something in return.

It's rather strange that you actually took an equal share from your mother's estate while your sister did the bulk of the work.

On the other side so to speak, my brother in law and his family have been living with my husband's parents since forever. Sometimes he works and sometimes he does not. His wife and son(now 20) never worked. My husband's parents have supported this family financially with their pensions for this whole time. On many occasions, my husband sent money back to Poland so they could "buy groceries". My husband's dad died recently. His brother and mother refuse to tell him if there is any debt or not. Now, our kids have to fly to Poland and go to a notary so they will not inherit the debt!! By the way, my husband flew back to Poland to care for his father for 1 month before he passed away-the brother didn't feel like cleaning his dad!