“I’m his only blood relative, but I won’t get a penny”... Sister left reeling by late brother’s will [This Is the Law]

[Financial News]  A younger sister, her brother’s only blood relative and now facing the prospect of receiving nothing, sought legal advice after he died, leaving a will donating his entire estate to a welfare foundation. He had greatly increased his wealth with the inheritance he received from their father.

On the 27th, YTN Radio’s ‘Attorney Jo In-seop’s Counseling Center’ featured the story of A, who recently lost her older brother in a sudden accident.
A said, “My brother and I weren’t especially close, but we weren’t on bad terms either. We were just ordinary siblings.” She added, “After our father died, my brother started a business and investing with the inheritance he received, and greatly increased his wealth. But he never married and lived alone.”
After the funeral, A learned that her brother had left a will donating all of his assets to a welfare foundation.
A revealed, “I’d heard that my brother had volunteered at that foundation for a long time, but I never imagined he’d leave a will donating his entire estate. Since I was his only close family member, I thought I might inherit at least some of his assets.”
She continued, “I’m not trying to disparage or reject my brother’s noble intentions outright, but he built his wealth with the seed money our father left him. It feels terribly harsh that he would leave nothing—not even a minimal share—to me, his only blood relative, and give everything to the foundation.”
She added, “I asked the welfare foundation whether I could receive even a portion of the estate, but they said it would be difficult to grant my request. I’m wondering whether there’s no way for me to inherit anything at all, or whether there’s a legal way to receive at least some of the assets.”

Attorney Park I-chan, who reviewed the case, explained, “If her brother had no spouse or children and their parents had already passed away, his younger sister could be a statutory heir. However, if there is a valid will, the assets may pass to the welfare foundation in accordance with it, even if there are statutory heirs.”
Attorney Park said, “Under current law, siblings are not entitled to a reserved share. If the will donating all of her brother’s assets to the welfare foundation is valid, it would be difficult for his younger sister to claim the return of any portion of the assets based solely on her status as his sibling.”
However, there may be grounds to examine the validity of the will itself. Attorney Park advised, “It is necessary to determine whether the will left by her brother is legally valid. A separate legal review is needed based on the specific circumstances, including whether he had the mental capacity to make a will at the time and whether it was drawn up under coercion or undue influence by someone else.”

[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter