A caller's unusual inheritance dilemma stunned Dave Ramsey co-hosts George Kamel and Jade Warshaw after he asked whether he morally owed money to his late father's longtime girlfriend despite no will, no marriage and no legal claim.
Girlfriend's Daughter Pressures Family For Inheritance Despite No Will
On Thursday, Kevin told The Ramsey Show that his father died unexpectedly in Pennsylvania without a will, leaving the estate to his three children under state law.
The tension began when the girlfriend's 30-year-old daughter demanded that Kevin's youngest sister either split or surrender her share of the inheritance, insisting her mother "put all this time and money into the house" during her 22-year relationship with Kevin's father.
Kamel pushed back immediately. "Did you borrow money from your dad’s girlfriend?" he asked. When Kevin said no, Kamel replied, "So, why would you owe him money?"
Ramsey Co-Hosts Say No Marriage, No Will, No Claim
Warshaw called the dynamic "messy," but said the legal reality is straightforward.
"There was never a commitment. If you want a commitment to getting money out of a will, then you have to start with a commitment through marriage," she said.
Warshaw noted that Kevin had already gone above and beyond by moving his own family out of his grandmother's home so the girlfriend, her son and other relatives could live there rent-free after the death.
Kamel urged Kevin not to give in. "Morally, legally, ethically, I don't think you owe anything," he said. "If you guys do give them a dollar, they’re going to come at you for the next dollar and the next $100."
Experts Push Callers To Regain Control Of Their Finances
Rachel from Eugene, Oregon, had called "The Ramsey Show" after her husband's construction business collapsed, leaving them with over $90,000 in debt and just $25 in their bank account.
With three children and another on the way, she said her husband hadn't been paid in months.
Ramsey urged him to take immediate work in construction or multiple side jobs, warning that "not working was not an option," while John Delony noted the family was close to losing basic utilities.
Ramsey told them to prioritize essentials—food, utilities, housing, then the truck payment—to stay afloat.
In another call, a father of 11 reported nearly $50,000 in credit card debt from years of spending heavily on children's sports.
Ramsey said the real issue was the couple's lack of a shared financial plan, not the activities themselves.
Co-Host Ken Coleman added that growing resentment between the spouses needed to be addressed before they could regain control of their finances.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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