History Main / SpitefulWill

While they may exist in RealLife to a certain extent ([[LoopholeAbuse There's No Rule]] that says you are forced to leave anything to someone you don't like, after all), the absurd degrees of spite that fictional examples tend to show would probably lead to a court hearing under the reasoning that ''this'' is not something a person of "sound mind" would place in a legal document.

* Radio/TheFrantics' "Last Will and Temperament" skit takes the form of a will reading which consists of everyone present being called out on their flaws and receiving a "boot to the head" (except the lawyer reading the will, who instead is bequeathed a rabid badger shoved down his trousers).

While they may exist in RealLife to a certain extent ([[LoopholeAbuse There's No Rule]] that says you are forced to leave anything to someone you don't like, after all), the absurd degrees of spite that fictional examples tend to show would probably lead to a court hearing under the cause that ''this'' is not something a person of "sound mind" would place in a legal document.

* ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'': During the "Kitchen Irish" arc, Old Man Nesbitt (the incredibly ancient head of TheIrishMob) was well known for his hatred of everyone under his orders, repeating his catchphrase "Shower o' cunts" ad nauseum. In his will, he leaves his fortune to four of them in the form of partial codes, fully expecting them to murder one another to get it. In fact, the four survivors agree to share their codes to spite Nesbitt (who was greatly responsible for their evil lifestyle thanks to his constant insults, put-downs, and molesting)... only to see the inheritance consists of a block of C4 with a 5-second timer. With "cunts" written on it.

Following a person's death, their family and associates all come to their wake and await the reading of their will, and any potential inheritance.

As it turns out, the dead has used their will to deliver one final TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to one, or all, of them and ensure that any inheritance directed towards them in the will will make their lives as miserable as possible (often by invoking that it is OnOneCondition or by [[PassedOverInheritance leaving them out entirely]]). Common in BlackComedy media, where the dead in question (almost always a curmudgeonly, elderly {{Jerkass}}) will no doubt use their will to get the last laugh on their SitcomArchNemesis or {{gold digg|er}}ing relatives in death.

* In the 1952 ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' story "Joker's Millions", later [[TheFilmOfTheBook adapted]] as [[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE7JokersMillions an episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', ComicBook/TheJoker inherits millions of dollars from recently deceased mob boss King Barlowe. The Joker starts recklessly spending money on everything he can think of, and ends up owing a ton of back taxes. The real kicker comes in when he learns that only the first $10 million he inherited was real money, while the rest is CounterfeitCash, since Barlowe's last will was merely a huge gag at the Joker's expense.

* One episode of ''Series/WKRPInCincinnati'' opens with Jennifer dating an older man who suddenly dies in the middle of dinner. She attends his will reading which is done via videotape and he gratuitously insults his relatives. She however is granted a large sum of money which she announces will be used for a parade to honor veterans.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' exists because of this trope. Zepheniah Mann was convinced by his two sons to purchase large areas of land in frontier America. On his journey over to see his newly purchased land he was struck with almost every illness known to man and was shocked to find it an empty and useless desert. Needless to say: he wasn't happy with his sons and in his will he never refers to them without some derogatory prefix: "dunderheaded", "addle-pated", "layabout", and "brain-defective" are all used. As the final spiteful spit he leaves them each [[ThisIsMySide half]] of his estate so they have to work together to get anything done, knowing they would never stop bickering -- indeed, it's not long before both resort to hiring mercenaries to take the other half by force, starting their ForeverWar which is the game's setting.

* Near the end of ''Ugly Hill'', the Kilgore brothers grandfather dies after having spent years estranged from the family after he had a huge falling out with his son and daughter (the main character's mother). Throughout most of the comics run, Mrs Kilgore would often reference her father's will and threaten to disinherit her own children as a way of keeping them under her thumb, only to discover at the will reading that all her father left them was ''500.000$ in credit card debts'', much to the brother's amusement.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'' episode "[[Recap/BobsBurgersS8E20MissionImposslugble Mission Impos-slug-ble]]", Bob is asked to do the eulogy for Harry, the man who used to supply his pickles. Bob thinks it's a mistake, since they were on bad terms after he angrily threw a pickle at Harry's face during an argument. After the eulogy, Harry's lawyer throws a pickle at Bob and said "Now we're even", as stipulated in Harry's will.
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'' has Duke find out he's suffering from a fatal illness (ironically named "Duke Phillip's Disease"), and asks Jay to dictate his will.
--> '''Duke''': To my ex-wife I leave ''zilch''! ...nah, she deserves more than that. Custody of my ''diddley-squad!''

* In the ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' episode "[[Recap/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphiaS03E03DennisAndDeesMomIsDead Dennis and Dee's Mom is Dead]]", Dennis and Dee’s mother and Frank’s ex-wife Barbra left her family a will in the event of her death (having [[KarmicDeath died during a botched neck-lift]]). She leaves [[ParentalFavoritism Dennis]] with the lavish family mansion as long as Frank is not aloud anywhere near it and her lover (and the actual father of Dennis and Dee) Bruce Mathis her half of the settlement, while leaving Frank (whose fortune she laundered, being the GoldDigger that she is) and Dee ([[AbusiveParent who she views as "a disappointment and a mistake", despite being twins with Dennis]]) absolutely nothing. She even asks to be buried with her jewelry, showing the kind of person she was.

--> '''Duke''': To my ex-wife I leave ''zilch''! ...nah, she deserves more than that. Custody of my ''didley-squad!''

* In the ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' episode "[[Recap/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphiaS03E03DennisAndDeesMomIsDead Dennis and Dee's Mom is Dead]]", Dennis and Dee’s mother and Frank’s ex-wife Barbra left her family a will in the event of her death (having [[KarmicDeath died during a botched neck-lift]]). She leaves [[ParentalFavoritism Dennis]] with the lavish family mansion as long as Frank is not loud anywhere near it and her lover (and the actual father of Dennis and Dee) Bruce Mathis her half of the settlement, while leaving Frank (who's fortune she laundered, being the GoldDigger that she is) and Dee ([[AbusiveParent who she views as "a disappointment and a mistake", despite being twins with Dennis]]) absolutely nothing. She even asks to be buried with her jewelry, showing the kind of person she was.
* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': In Stymie Bundy's will, he tells Al to take his hand off his pants, which he begrudgingly complies, expresses his hopes that Al rid himself of the redhead who kept stealing his wallet, and calls his relatives "vultures".

* Near the end of ''Webcomic/UglyHill'', the Kilgore brothers grandfather dies after having spent years estranged from the family after he had a huge falling out with his son and daughter (the main characters mother). Throughout most of the comics run, Mrs Kilgore would often reference her fathers will and threaten to disinherit her own children as a way of keeping them under her thumb, only to discover at the will reading that all her father left them was ''500.000$ in credit card debts'', much to the brothers amusement.

-->-- The last will and testament of '''Zephaniah Mann''', and the reason for the ForeverWar of ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''

May result from the relatives being {{Inadequate Inheritor}}s in the eyes of the deceased, almost always combined with SillyWill when PlayedForLaughs. Compare DyingDeclarationOfHate, which is done as the person is dying rather than being prepared while 'of sound mind'.

[[folder:Comics]]
* ''Comic/ThePunisherMAX'': During the "Kitchen Irish" arc, Old Man Nesbitt (the incredibly ancient head of TheIrishMob) was well known for his hatred of everyone under his orders, repeating his catchphrase "Shower o' cunts" ad nauseum. In his will, he leaves his fortune to four of them in the form of partial codes, fully expecting them to murder one another to get it. In fact, the four survivors agree to share their codes to spite Nesbitt (who was greatly responsible for their evil lifestyle thanks to his constant insults, put-downs, and molesting)... only to see the inheritance consists of a block of C4 with a 5-second timer. With "cunts" written on it.

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: LiveActionTelevision]]

[[folder: Radio]]

[[folder: VideoGames]]
* The Miser's Will in ''VideoGame/{{Diablo 3}}'':

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' exists because of this trope. Zepheniah Mann was convinced by his two sons to purchase large areas of land in frontier America. On his journey over to see his newly purchased land he was struck with almost every illness known to man and was shocked to find it an empty and useless desert. Needless to say: He wasn't happy with his sons and in his will he never refers to them without some derogatory prefix: 'dunderheaded', 'addle-pated' 'layabout', and 'brain-defective' are all used. As the final spiteful spit he leaves them each [[ThisIsMySide half]] of his estate so they have to work together to get anything done, knowing they would never stop bickering -- indeed, it's not long before both resort to hiring mercenaries to take the other half by force, starting their ForeverWar which is the game's setting.

[[folder: Web Comics]]
* Near the end of ''UglyHill'', the Kilgore brothers grandfather dies after having spent years estranged from the family after he had a huge falling out with his son and daughter (the main characters mother). Throughout most of the comics run, Mrs Kilgore would often reference her fathers will and threaten to disinherit her own children as a way of keeping them under her thumb, only to discover at the will reading that all her father left them was ''500.000$ in credit card debts'', much to the brothers amusement.

[[folder: WesternAnimation]]

* One episode of ''TheCritic'' has Duke find out he's suffering from a fatal illness (ironically named "Duke Phillip's Disease"), and asks Jay to dictate his will.

* ''Discworld/SoulMusic'': One of Susan's first cases (she takes up the Duty as her grandfather is absent) is a horrible old man who's hidden his will from his obnoxious relatives. And as they start tearing up the room looking for it, the man's ghost reveals it's in the cat's basket... [[PetHeir and he left everything to the cat.]] Not even as kindness -- he hated the cat as well, so he fully expects his family to kill the cat before turning on each other.

* In the 1952 ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' story "Joker's Millions", later [[TheFilmOfTheBook adapted]] as [[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE7JokersMillions an episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', ComicBook/TheJoker inherits millions of dollars from recently deceased mob boss King Barlowe. The Joker starts recklessly spending money on everything he can think of, and ends up owing a ton of back taxes. The real kicker comes in when he learns that only the first ten million dollars he inherited were real money, while the rest is counterfeit, since Barlowe's last will was merely a huge gag at the Joker's expense.

* On ''WesternAnimation/BobsBurgers'', Bob is asked to do the eulogy for Harry, the man that used to supply his pickles. Bob thinks it's a mistake, since they were on bad terms after he angrily threw a pickle at Harry's face. After the eulogy, Harry's lawyer threw a pickle at Bob and said "Now we're even", as stipulated on his will.

As it turns out, the dead has used their will to deliver one final TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to one, or all, of them and ensure that any inheritance directed towards them in the will will make their lives as miserable as possible (often by invoking that it is OnOneCondition or by [[PassedOverInheritance leaving them out entirely]]). Common in BlackComedy media, where the dead in question (almost always a curmudgeon elderly {{Jerkass}}) will no doubt use their will to get the last laugh on their SitcomArchNemesis or {{gold digg|er}}ing relatives in death.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Best Friends Forever", after some fond words toward Stan and Kyle, Kenny's will laments that he never liked Cartman and he will likely die alone due to lacking any empathy. Unlike standard examples however, he does hand him the desired inheritance of a games console, if only out of pity.

* In the 1952 ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' story "Joker's Millions", later [[TheFilmOfTheBook adapted]] as [[/Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE7JokersMillions an episode]] of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', ComicBook/TheJoker inherits millions of dollars from recently deceased mob boss King Barlowe. The Joker starts recklessly spending money on everything he can think of, and ends up owing a ton of back taxes. The real kicker comes in when he learns that only the first ten million dollars he inherited were real money, while the rest is counterfeit, since Barlowe's last will was merely a huge gag at the Joker's expense.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode "Peter Peter Caviar Eater", Lois' late Aunt Margarite has a rather lavish ''Lifestyle Of The Rich And Famous'' style video will, and, [[ObnoxiousInLaws like the rest of Lois' family]], doesn't turn down the chance to pick a bone with Peter:

-->-- The last will and testament of Zephaniah Mann, and the reason for the ForeverWar of ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''

* ''Series/{{The Twilight Zone|1959}}'': In the episode "The Masks", a dying millionaire changes his will to force his heirs to wear hideous masks for one night or be disinherited, while he himself wears a death's-head mask. He gleefully informs each of them how his or her mask embodies that heir's individual character flaws. The heirs complain, but each is driven by greed to keep the masks on. At the end of the night [[spoiler:the millionaire is dead of natural causes and all the heirs' faces [[BecomingTheCostume have been transformed to the shape of their mask]]]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "Joker's Millions", the Joker inherits millions of dollars from a recently deceased mob boss King Barlowe. The Joker starts recklessly spending money on everything he can think of, and ends up owing a ton of back taxes. The real kicker comes in when he learns that only the first ten million dollars he inherited were real money, while the rest is counterfeit, since Barlowe's last will was merely a huge gag at the Joker's expense.

* Loretta's will in the spin-off ''WesternAnimation/TheClevelandShow'' is a rather elaborately spiteful example, not only does she not leave a cent to Cleveland and hand it all to their son Junior, but she is also savvy enough to mandate that Junior cannot share any of the money with him as a loophole.

* ''Series/{{The Twilight Zone|1959}}'': In the episode "The Masks", a dying millionaire changes his will to force his heirs to wear hideous masks for one night or be disinherited, while he himself wears a death's-head mask. He gleefully informs each of them how his or her mask embodies that heir's individual character flaws. The heirs complain, but each is driven by greed to keep the masks on. At the end of the night [[spoiler:the millionaire is dead of natural causes and all the heirs' faces have been transformed to the shape of their mask]].

-->-- The last will and testament of Zephaniah Mann, and the reason for the ForeverWar of Videogame/TeamFortress2

As it turns out, the dead has used their will to deliver one final TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to one, or all, of them and ensure that any inheritance directed towards them in the will will make their lives as miserable as possible (often by invoking that it is OnOneCondition). Common in BlackComedy media, where the dead in question (almost always a curmudgeon elderly {{Jerkass}}) will no doubt use their will to get the last laugh on their SitcomArchNemesis or {{gold digg|er}}ing relatives in death.

* ''Discworld/SoulMusic'': One of Susan's first cases (she takes up the Duty as her grandfather is absent) is a horrible old man who's hidden his will from his obnoxious relatives. And as they start tearing up the room looking for it, the man's ghost reveals it's in the cat's basket... [[PetHeir and he left everything to the cat.]] Not even as kindness- he hated the cat as well, so he fully expects his family to kill the cat before turning on each other.
* In the ''Creator/JohnGrisham'' novel ''The Testament'', billionaire Troy Phelan presents the lawyers representing his ex-wives and multiple heirs with a will guaranteeing them each of them a sizeable portion of his estate. As soon as they have left the room, he presents his own lawyers with a new will which overrides the previous one - and which will only give everyone just enough money to pay off their debts and leaves everything else to an illegitimate daughter - then [[DrivenToSuicide throws himself out of a window]].

* ''Series/JaneTheVirgin'': Rafael receives this treatment when his father dies. His father's will said that he's only leaving money to his '''biological''' children (his sister Luisa, Rafael was adopted when he was younger and Rafael was left with nothing.
* ''Series/TheTwilightZone'': In the episode "The Masks", a dying millionaire changes his will to force his heirs to wear hideous masks for one night or be disinherited, while he himself wears a death's-head mask. He gleefully informs each of them how his or her mask embodies that heir's individual character flaws. The heirs complain, but each is driven by greed to keep the masks on. At the end of the night [[spoiler: the millionaire is dead of natural causes and all the heirs faces have been transformed to the shape of their mask]].

* ''Radio/TheFrantics''' "Last Will and Temperament" skit takes the form of a will reading which consists of everyone present being called out on their flaws and recieving a "boot to the head" (except the lawyer reading the will, who instead is bequeathed a rabid badger shoved down his trousers).

* The Miser's Will in ''Videogame/{{Diablo 3}}'':
-->"To my sniveling offspring: if you are reading this, then I am dead and you have come to claim my fortune. Well, you still can't have it! I have set traps to stop you from even trying. So, enjoy the rest of your poor, miserable, and cowardly lives.
* ''Videogame/TeamFortress2'' exists because of this trope. Zepheniah Mann was convinced by his two sons to purchase large areas of land in frontier America. On his journey over to see his newly purchased land he was struck with almost every illness known to man and was shocked to find it an empty and useless desert. Needless to say: He wasn't happy with his sons and in his will he never refers to them without some derogatory prefix: 'dunderheaded', 'addle-pated' 'layabout', and 'brain-defective' are all used. As the final spiteful spit he leaves them each [[ThisIsMySide half]] of his estate so they have to work together to get anything done, knowing they would never stop bickering - indeed, it's not long before both resort to hiring mercenaries to take the other half by force, starting their ForeverWar which is the game's setting.

-->'''Aunt Margarite:''' Lois, you were always my favorite niece; I just knew you would find a wonderful man who would make all your dreams come true. [[BaitAndSwitch But I was wrong.]]
-->'''Peter:''' ''*watching present day*'' And now you're dead. Score one for Peter.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries" episode "Joker's Millions", the Joker inherits millions of dollars from a recently deceased mob boss King Barlowe. The Joker starts recklessly spending money on everything he can think of, and ends up owing a ton of back taxes. The real kicker comes in when he learns that only the first ten million dollars he inherited were real money, while the rest is counterfeit, since Barlowe's last will was merely a huge gag at the Joker's expense.

-> "... To my layabout, brain-defective sons, Blutarch and Redmond, I leave the greatest curse of all: partnership. What land I have purchased in this new world is to be split evenly between you both. You have wasted your lives bickering over nothing, and so I leave you dimwits something of consequence over to which to feud."

* Comic/ThePunisherMAX: During the "Kitchen Irish" arc, Old Man Nesbitt (the incredibly ancient head of TheIrishMob) was well known for his hatred of everyone under his orders, repeating his catchphrase "Shower o' cunts" ad nauseum. In his will, he leaves his fortune to four of them in the form of partial codes, fully expecting them to murder one another to get it. In fact, the four survivors agree to share their codes to spite Nesbitt (who was greatly responsible for their evil lifestyle thanks to his constant insults, put-downs, and molesting)... only to see the inheritance consists of a block of C4 with a 5-second timer. With "cunts" written on it.

* Discworld/SoulMusic: One of Susan's first cases (she takes up the Duty as her grandfather is absent) is a horrible old man who's hidden his will from his obnoxious relatives. And as they start tearing up the room looking for it, the man's ghost reveals it's in the cat's basket... [[PetHeir and he left everything to the cat.]] Not even as kindness- he hated the cat as well, so he fully expects his family to kill the cat before turning on each other.
* In the Creator/JohnGrisham novel ''The Testament'', billionaire Troy Phelan presents the lawyers representing his ex-wives and multiple heirs with a will guaranteeing them each of them a sizeable portion of his estate. As soon as they have left the room, he presents his own lawyers with a new will which overrides the previous one - and which will only give everyone just enough money to pay off their debts and leaves everything else to an illegitimate daughter - then [[DrivenToSuicide throws himself out of a window]].

* Videogame/TeamFortress2 exists because of this trope. Zepheniah Mann was convinced by his two sons to purchase large areas of land in frontier America. On his journey over to see his newly purchased land he was struck with almost every illness known to man and was shocked to find it an empty and useless desert. Needless to say: He wasn't happy with his sons and in his will he never refers to them without some derogatory prefix: 'dunderheaded', 'addle-pated' 'layabout', and 'brain-defective' are all used. As the final spiteful spit he leaves them each [[ThisIsMySide half]] of his estate so they have to work together to get anything done, knowing they would never stop bickering - indeed, it's not long before both resort to hiring mercenaries to take the other half by force, starting their ForeverWar which is the game's setting.

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Indexes: DeathTropes, WillAndInheritanceTropes, HatredTropes