Dear Abby: I’m concerned that my family member will committ estate fraud after losing her partner

A Dear Abby advice column answers three readers’ questions about a bereaved relative, an intrusive parent and splitting restaurant bills. In the first letter, a reader worries that a relative may falsely claim a longer relationship with her deceased partner to gain from his estate; Abby advises raising genuine concerns privately with the estate’s executor.

The column also suggests overwhelming a nosy parent with dull details in the hope they lose interest, while keeping anger in check. For a couple whose friends’ expensive orders make equal bill-splitting unaffordable, Abby recommends casually asking for separate checks and framing it as what works better for them.