A Family Debates Cutting Off A Sibling's Inheritance Over Fears They'll Squander It. Dave Ramsey Says The Executor Is 'Being Stupid'
A Family Debates Cutting Off A Sibling's Inheritance Over Fears They'll Squander It. Dave Ramsey Says The Executor Is 'Being Stupid'
Adrian VolenikSat, February 28, 2026 at 7:00 PM UTC
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When a parent passes away, the money they leave behind can bring out tension that's been simmering for years. That was the case for one family who recently sought advice on “The Ramsey Show.” What started as a concern about financial responsibility quickly turned into a legal and ethical debate.
Mike, a caller from Virginia Beach, Virginia, explained that his wife and her siblings inherited money from their father several years ago. One sibling was named executor of the will. But instead of distributing the money equally, the executor decided not to tell one of the siblings about their share, claiming that person wasn't financially responsible enough to handle it.
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Executor's Role Is To Follow The Will
Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey didn't hesitate in his response and said that the executor's job is clearly defined. “The reason they're called an executor is they're to execute what the will said,” he said. “It didn't say you're a trust officer and you get to decide what's best. It said you execute what the will says. It's your only option.”
Even if the executor disagrees with how the money will be used, Ramsey said that doesn't matter. “Even if you don't like it, even if you don't agree with it, you have one option when you're the executor, and that's to execute what the will says,” he said.
He warned that ignoring those instructions could result in serious consequences. “The people on the other side of it are going to sue your butt, and they're going to win because you violated your fiduciary responsibility,” Ramsey said. “I would tell the executive that they’re being stupid and they’re going to get sued.”
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The amount in question wasn't massive, about $8,000 to $10,000 per sibling. Ramsey said it's “not enough to mess with,” but said the dollar figure doesn't change the principle. If the excluded sibling discovers they were intentionally left out, the executor could be “in deep kimchi legally,” he said.
Mike said he had already told the executor that withholding the money was a bad idea. Ramsey's advice? You've said your piece. “Then you've done your job and leave it alone,” he said.
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Choosing The Right Person Matters
Co-host Jade Warshaw highlighted a broader lesson. Picking an executor isn't just about trust. It's about integrity and neutrality.
“They need to be Switzerland,” she said, meaning the executor should stay neutral and carry out the will exactly as written.
Ramsey agreed and reminded listeners that the will reflects the wishes of the person who passed away, not the opinions of surviving family members. Overstepping that boundary doesn't just create family drama. It can result in legal trouble.
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In this case, an executor doesn't get to rewrite the will based on personal judgment. As Ramsey put it, the sibling trying to withhold the inheritance is “being stupid.” The job is to follow instructions, not edit them.
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This article A Family Debates Cutting Off A Sibling's Inheritance Over Fears They'll Squander It. Dave Ramsey Says The Executor Is 'Being Stupid' originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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