Inheritance Law, UK and Swedish

[Red Robin]

My husband died 2 weeks ago. He was Swedish. He had no will and estate (we are tenants). Between us we have 60k of credit card debt. He was on a Swedish state pension and UK Disability benefit. His father is still alive (with severe dementia now). He gifted my husband paintings and statues from his apartment which are now in our home in the UK. I am a UK citizen and we married and lived in the UK for 4 years. Tonight I had a call from his Swedish daughters from his first marriage. They now stand to inherit my husbands share of his fathers estate per Swedish law which I know to be true and fair enough. But now they are saying they want half of my husband's possessions in the UK including the paintings and statues which were gifted to my husband and my husband thought would stay with me. Of course at the end of my life I would have given these to them anyhow. But, these things were part of the home we made, its only been 2 weeks and I am grieving heavily as it is. Do you know where I stand legally on this? Thank you.

[Peridot]

Hi Red robin,

I am sorry for your recent loss, it must be really hard for you. Not the time to be discussing your husband's belongings. I'm afraid I do not know how Swedish law works so it may be necessary for you to get some specialist advice on this. I suspect that there are what are known as succession rules which means a swiss nationals property and other assets have to be divided in a particular way between partners and children. It may be nothing to do with the gifts your husband received from his father.

I appreciate this is a really hard time for you and not knowing what sort of a relationship you have with your husband's daughters, but wonder if you are able to talk to them about how this can be dealt with. Maybe they would be agreeable to allowing you a little time to get yourself sorted and in a better place before discussing how the items can be or should be dealt with?

Get some advice on what the Swedish rules are so you know where you stand and how things should be sorted, before discussing with his daughters maybe?

I'm sorry I can't give you any more pointers but we're here for support if it helps.

[Red Robin]

Thank you. Yes, you are right. I just hate this part.

[Peridot]

It's must be really tough for you. Here for support if you need some.