[Reading level: C1 – Advanced]
After suffering a stroke two years ago, Mr. Huu Toi decided to divide his assets to prevent his children from falling into a “sibling feud” after his passing.
A 500-square-meter plot of land was split equally between his two sons. Wanting to avoid burdening either of them with the responsibility of caring for him in old age, Mr. Toi chose to alternate living at each son’s house.
However, this marked the beginning of a tragic period for the 75-year-old father.
Previously, he managed his own meals, but when he moved in with his children, he was asked to contribute to food and electricity costs. “Their household has five people, but I had to pay half,” Mr. Toi said.
Though he managed to scrape together the money, the constant bickering and verbal abuse—when his sons and daughters-in-law vented their frustrations—left him anxious, feeling as though their criticisms were directed at him.
One summer, when the eldest son’s family went on vacation for a week, Mr. Toi had to move to the younger son’s house. The younger son demanded his elder brother pay extra for the father’s care, arguing, “It’s not my turn yet.” The elder brother refused and accused his sibling of being unfilial. The altercation escalated to the point where Mr. Toi felt too ashamed to leave the house for a month, fearing ridicule from the villagers.
“I made a mistake by dividing my assets too early. Now I have nothing left, my children see me as a burden, and the end of my days hasn’t even come yet,” Mr. Toi lamented.
Having participated in numerous cases involving inheritance disputes, lawyer Diep Nang Binh, head of the Tinh Thong Luat Law Office, suggests that dividing assets early can be the right solution for some families but may ignite conflicts in others.
Real-life cases demonstrate that early inheritance distribution can serve as a springboard for children to build their careers, helping them stabilize their young families’ finances. Conversely, some parents, having transferred all their assets, are later seen as freeloaders in the very homes they built.
“Some are even kicked out of their homes or subjected to disrespectful behavior from their children after the assets have been fully divided. In such cases, only legal intervention can recover the parents’ rights,” said Mr. Binh.
Adding to this perspective, economist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Minh Cuong, a former lecturer at Vietnam National University, argues that many families view early inheritance distribution as a way to minimize disputes, which may be easier to resolve than issues arising from wills.
However, Dr. Cuong emphasizes that early inheritance is only suitable for families whose children are dutiful and capable of managing and developing the assets. The “easy come, easy go” mentality often leads to wastefulness and a lack of appreciation for what has been given.
Three years ago, Mrs. Ngoc Lan and her husband in Thanh Hoa decided to transfer the land title to their only son when he faced business losses and needed capital to restart. Despite objections from relatives and friends, the 64-year-old woman believed in supporting her child and chose what she thought was the right moment to act.
“When I’m frail or bedridden, who else will care for me but my son?” she told her husband. “If we don’t help him when he needs it most, how can we expect him to care for us wholeheartedly when we’re weak?”
With the land as collateral, her son, instead of focusing on his business, turned to gambling in hopes of recovering his previous losses. Within a year, he declared bankruptcy, informed his parents that the house was gone, and disappeared. The old couple, left homeless, had to rely on the support of relatives and neighbors.
From the case of Mrs. Lan’s family, lawyer Diep Nang Binh advised that when parents intend to transfer part or all of their assets, there should be certain binding arrangements regarding the rights and responsibilities of their children. At the very least, parents should ask individuals or authorities to act as witnesses, monitor the process, and even take action if there are violations in managing or using the inherited assets, in order to prevent potential issues such as children reneging on agreements or infringing on the parents’ rights and interests.
“Rather than focusing on early inheritance distribution, parents should consider drafting a will,” Mr. Binh said. Under Vietnam’s Civil Code, a will takes effect upon the opening of the inheritance (the parents’ passing). At this point, the heirs will receive their share as outlined in the will. If no will exists, the inheritance will be divided according to the law.
When drafting a will, Mr. Binh advises parents not to disclose its contents to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Moreover, the law allows parents to amend, supplement, or replace the will at any time before its execution.
Adding to this, economic expert Do Minh Cuong notes that no matter how much parents love their children, they should retain sufficient assets in their later years to remain independent and prepared for unforeseen circumstances. Parents should only give money or property to their children when they have secured a robust safety net for themselves.
“Ensuring that children are not burdened financially by their parents in old age is also a form of responsibility,” he said.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/bi-kich-vi-chia-thua-ke-som-4820836.html
WORD BANK:
stroke /stroʊk/ [B2] (n): đột quỵ
asset /ˈæs.et/ [C1] (n): tài sản
sibling feud /ˈsɪb.lɪŋ fjuːd/ (n): huynh đệ tương tàn
passing /ˈpæs·ɪŋ/ (n): qua đời
alternate /ˈɑːl.tɝː.nət/ (adj): luân phiên
tragic /ˈtrædʒ.ɪk/ [B2] (adj): bi kịch
scrape together /skreɪp/ (v): góp (tiền)
bicker /ˈbɪk.ɚ/ (v): cãi vã (chuyện vặt vãnh)
verbal abuse /ˈvɝː.bəl əˈbjuːz/ (n): lăng mạ
vent /vent/ (v): trút (cơn giận)
unfilial /ʌnˈfɪl.i.əl/ (adj – formal): bất hiếu
altercation /ˌɑːl.tɚˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (n): cuộc đấu khẩu
escalate /ˈes.kə.leɪt/ (v): leo thang
ridicule sb /ˈrɪd.ə.kjuːl/ (v): chê cười ai đó
burden /ˈbɝː.dən/ [C1] (n, v): gánh nặng, làm gánh nặng cho ai
lament /ləˈment/ (v): xót xa, ca thán
inheritance /ɪnˈher.ɪ.təns/ [C2] (n): thừa kế
dispute /dɪˈspjuːt/ /ˈdɪs.pjuːt/ [C2] (n): tranh chấp
ignite /ɪɡˈnaɪt/ (v): châm ngòi
demonstrate /ˈdem.ən.streɪt/ [B2] (v): cho thấy, chỉ ra
springboard /ˈsprɪŋ.bɔːrd/ (n): tấm nhún, đòn bẩy để ai đó phát triển
conversely /ˈkɑːn.vɝːs.li/ /kənˈvɝːs.li/ (adv): ngược lại
freeloader /ˈfriːˌloʊ.dɚ/ (n): kẻ ăn bám
be subjected to sth (v): phải chịu cái gì
legal intervention /ˈliː.ɡəl ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈven.ʃən/ (n): sự can thiệp của pháp luật
former /ˈfɔːr.mɚ/ (adj – formal): cựu, nguyên
will /wɪl/ [B2] (n): di chúc
dutiful /ˈduː.t̬ɪ.fəl/ (adj): có trách nhiệm
mentality /menˈtæl.ə.t̬i/ [C1] (n): tâm lý
appreciation /əˌpriː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/ [B2] (n): sự trân trọng
land title (n): sổ đỏ
objection /əbˈdʒek.ʃən/ (n): sự phản đối ‘
frail /freɪl/ [C2] (adj): lú lẫn
bedridden /ˈbed.rɪd.ən/ (adj): nằm liệt giường
wholeheartedly /ˌhoʊlˈhɑːr.t̬ɪd.li/ [C2] (adv): hết lòng, tận tâm
collateral /kəˈlæt̬.ɚ.əl/ (n): khoản tiền, món đồ ký quỹ, thế chấp
gambling /ˈɡæm.bəl/ (n): cờ bạc
in hopes of sth (pre): với hi vọng gì đó
bankruptcy /ˈbæŋ.krəpt.si/ (n): phá sản
binding /ˈbaɪn.dɪŋ/ (adj): có tính ràng buộc
right /raɪt/ (n): quyền
witness /ˈwɪt.nəs/ [B2] (n): nhân chứng
renege on sth /rɪˈneɡ/ (v – formal): bội ước, thất hứa với việc gì
infringe on sth /ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/ (v – formal): xâm phạm đến cái gì, vi phạm điều gì
draft a will /dræft/ [C1] (v): lập di chúc
take effect [C1] (v): có hiệu lực
heir /er/ [C2] (n): người thừa kế
outline /ˈaʊt.laɪn/ [C2] (v): nêu ra
disclose sth /dɪˈskloʊz/ [C2] (v): tiết lộ điều gì
amend /əˈmend/ [C2] (v): sửa đổi
supplement /ˈsʌp.lə.mənt/ [C2] (v): bổ sung
execution /ˌek.səˈkjuː.ʃən/ (n): sự thi hành, thực thi
retain sth /rɪˈteɪn/ [C2] (v – formal): giữ lại cái gì
sufficient /səˈfɪʃ.ənt/ [B2] (adj): đủ
robust /roʊˈbʌst/ (adj): mạnh
a robust safety net (n): một quỹ dự phòng đủ an toàn
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