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Rainbow
Gambia
114 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 13:08:46
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I just saw this article in BBC website ... With hundreds of African women lining up daily in lawyer's offices to complain that relatives of their dead husband have seized their property, who should inherit your wealth?
For many women in Africa, losing a husband doesn't just mean the loss of a loved one, a father and a breadwinner.
It can also mean the loss of cattle, chickens, tables, chairs, clothes and shoes to relatives who insist that what belonged to the man now belongs to them.
The repercussions can be devastating, sending the wife and her children into a spiral of poverty.
Who do you think should inherit your wealth? I think my wealth should be inherited by my children and my parents! my husband may use it to marry another wife and if the kids are not lucky - she can turn their own compound to hell for them. I love my husband - but you cannot trust them (men) when it comes to ladies!!! I'm sorry men:-)!!!
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 14:30:11
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If you live in Uk you should make a will. Then your solicitor would know your wishes and carry them out for you.
If you are married it is normal practice for your husband or wife to inherit. This is practical because if you have loved your husband your wife you wouldnt want them to be made homeless by your death, would you!?
If you want to name particular people or organisations to benefit that can be done too.
I am not married any more, so my children benefit from my will. NOT my parents. The idea is that inheritance rolls down the generations making life a little easier for the next generation.
We dont want to make life TOO easy for our children though do we? Money can be a powerful demotivator. Bill Gates recently said he wanted his children to have enough money so they could do anything they liked, but not so much that they did nothing!!! 
I have talked to my children about my will. They also know about my values in life and I hope they will continue to do something 'charitable' after my death.
If ever I won the lottery I would make sure my immediate family were debt free and comfortable and then give the rest away. If you have 20 million pounds how much of it do you need? How much would you want your children to inherit?
I would like my children to be able to afford their own properties and pay their bills without worrying about every penny. I wouldnt wish for a designer life style for them. I think that is shallow and unhealthy. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 14:32:29
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it is also complicated by religion. in islamic societies inheritance is done according to islamic law where preference is to men.
i'm not sure in The Gambia which is more important Islamic Law or common Law when it comes to marriage and divorce and inheritance. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 14:34:59
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You wouldnt want your man to remarry then Rainbow?
I have seen a case in Gambia where the women was treated like part of the husbands possessions and when he died she was just passed on to his brother! I suppose it gives her security, but does she have any say in the decision? How commmon is it? |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 14:38:25
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| njucks why is preference still given to men? It was this way in England, where the oldest son got everything, but in return he was expected to care for the rest of the family. It enabled families to keep their power base instead of it being watered down by having to split the cash between several people. The line of inheritance stayed VERY strong. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 14:50:45
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
njucks why is preference still given to men? It was this way in England, where the oldest son got everything, but in return he was expected to care for the rest of the family. It enabled families to keep their power base instead of it being watered down by having to split the cash between several people. The line of inheritance stayed VERY strong.
i think it's just the way Sharia (islamic law) works. but in common law ofcourse its like the UK where you can have a will and the government takes its share too |
Edited by - njucks on 04 Jul 2006 14:53:09 |
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Rainbow
Gambia
114 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 14:57:32
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My mum's mother died when she was young and her father remarried another wife and my mum and her sister were looked after by their uncle. Their father was not rich but aboved average.
When their father died the brothers and the other sons of the second wife took over everything.
Not a single thing was given to them. Lands and compounds automatically belongs to them. Because they have changed everything to their names. We are still going to court!!! |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 15:07:01
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Rainbow i have seen similar cases like these. they didnt go to court though i guess it was too time consuming and expensive.
anyway i think the problem lies with the conflict in traditional/customary law and the formal legal system. both of which i guess are recognised by the constitution.
i'm sure there are many stories like these. Good luck and hope you win |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 15:08:19
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That is so sad. If I child loses its mother, it needs the father MORE than ever, not less. Just because a man remarries he shouldnt cast his first children aside, they are still his blood. Sometimes in very difficult painful divorced this can happen, but when the seperation is by death I dont understand how a father can do that!
But then, there is alot I dont understand about SOME men!!!!
Sadly, when these disputes go on for years people suffer emotionally and financially. Then when it is finally resolved it is all eaten up in lawyers fees and there is no real winner. There is nothing new in this. Charles Dickens wrote about it often! |
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Formby
United Kingdom
246 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 18:10:19
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| Simple answer for a woman with money; don't marry. There's really no need and it never benefits the women anyway unless she is penniless. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 18:50:21
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| I married for love. Also I believe in marriage as the best start for raising children. Now my children are older I have divorced their father. I am saying I will NEVER marry again, because I dont see the need for it. But cupids arrow plays strange tricks on us all!!! |
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Rainbow
Gambia
114 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 18:50:56
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Gambiaview - This court has been going on for 3 years and now my mum passed away and i am based in UK. Elders are now saying niece has little to say in grandfather's property.
When i'm there they all pretend to support me
I don't think we will win. I have decided to forget it but the pain will be in me for ever. It is betrayal of trust!!!
Rainbow
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quote:
Originally posted by gambiabev
That is so sad. If I child loses its mother, it needs the father MORE than ever, not less. Just because a man remarries he shouldnt cast his first children aside, they are still his blood. Sometimes in very difficult painful divorced this can happen, but when the seperation is by death I dont understand how a father can do that!
But then, there is alot I dont understand about SOME men!!!!
Sadly, when these disputes go on for years people suffer emotionally and financially. Then when it is finally resolved it is all eaten up in lawyers fees and there is no real winner. There is nothing new in this. Charles Dickens wrote about it often!
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Rainbow
Gambia
114 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 18:55:24
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| I am happily married but my will is definitely for my children! if my husband want he can also give his will to his children. |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 04 Jul 2006 : 19:44:05
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| when it comes to making a WILL your children should come first then grandchildren if you have one,its all about helping the next generation in your family. |
There is no god but Allah |
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Janyanfara
Tanzania
1350 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2006 : 00:42:43
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Hey,
hold on a minute!Where does this all inequality started?I don't belief God's religion Islam if it is truelly God's religion would differentiate between childreen of the same Father.I don't agree as some of you seems to imply,
"Islam tends to support men over women".No not at all.Greedy men's Islam does but not God's Islam
Any religion which does not treat equality between men and women is not God's religion.
If God said in holy the Quran["In the name of Allah the merciful the beneficient,....Heaven lies at the feet of mothers"],
If the above is truely God's words ,then who are those preechers who mislead muslims about men over women in Islam?There is no where in God's religion which favours one against the other.
The reason sharia[Islamic law} gives more from the inheritance to the son over the daughter was because the daughter goes into another wealth[her husband's] whilst the son would keep the family tree growing and have to support a wife.
In islam women are suposed to keep beautiful and shinning in their fathers home.the only hard work she is expected to do is to help her mother in the household chores until she is matured and a man sees her and wanted to marry her.While the man is expected toil the soil,do all the hard work and move out in the sun/snow to look for something to do to bring food,clothing,medical-care ect, and when married,he is expected to take care of all family mentinances.
But as these rules were laid down,due to man's greed and laziness,they tried to change with time to suit themselves while refused to change the law.Thus left all the burden on women today.
Therefore if sharia is to be interpreted to our today standerd,all should be equal towards the dead father's wealth.People who call themselves Muslims now adays are those giving the religion the bad name it is having.
Islam which means peace would never create a chaotic environment.Women are never left behind in Islam as far as I know because a women in Islam is a princess who should enjoy in her father's house,then when she reaches maturity,goes to her husband whose duty according to the faith is to care and fed for her till death or seperation!
Thus with those guidelines set up by God,the reason for the prophet's Sharia but if things changed,the law also should change.
Only those who used the religion to suit them mislead people.God's religions Christianity,Islam,Judaism, ect are one and not seperable and who ever tries it you shall fail for God sent each prophet to continue where the other left.
People should try and read the oreginal texts of these religions.It is not advise-able to just belief in a faith just because you were born into it.None of the prophets did joined the faiths they found their people practicing.They went in search of truth and God had asked everyone to do just the same.Iliteracy in religion has led us to all these religious misunderstandings and confrontations.There is not difference in these religions.All are one.Just that they are sent in different languages.Thats all and some men tried to change them to suit their desires.
peace
Defender of all God's religions
Janyanfara |
Edited by - Janyanfara on 05 Jul 2006 00:57:42 |
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LEMON TIME
Afghanistan
1295 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jul 2006 : 01:04:15
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| welsaid Janyanfara BRAVO |
There is no god but Allah |
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