diff --git a/qt.py b/qt.py
index 12a1f03..fa3abe1 100644
--- a/qt.py
+++ b/qt.py
@@ -624,7 +624,11 @@ class BalWindow(Logger):
 
     def delete_heirs(self, heirs):
         for heir in heirs:
-            del self.heirs[heir]
+            try:
+                del self.heirs[heir]
+            except Exception as e:
+                _logger.debug(f"error deleting heir: {heir} {e}") 
+                pass
         self.heirs.save()
         self.heir_list.update()
         return True
@@ -1687,7 +1691,7 @@ class BalWizardHeirsWidget(BalWizardWidget):
     )
 
     def get_content(self):
-        self.heirs_list = HeirList(self.bal_window, self.parent)
+        self.heirs_list = HeirList(self.bal_window, self)
         button_add = QPushButton(_("Add"))
         button_add.clicked.connect(self.add_heir)
         button_import = QPushButton(_("Import"))
@@ -2532,6 +2536,10 @@ class HeirList(MyTreeView, MessageBoxMixin):
             except Exception:
                 self.update()
 
+    def delete_heirs(self,selected_keys):
+       self.bal_window.delete_heirs(selected_keys)
+       self.update()
+
     def create_menu(self, position):
         menu = QMenu()
         idx = self.indexAt(position)
@@ -2560,7 +2568,7 @@ class HeirList(MyTreeView, MessageBoxMixin):
                         lambda p=persistent: self.edit(QModelIndex(p)),
                     )
             menu.addAction(
-                _("Delete"), lambda: self.bal_window.delete_heirs(selected_keys)
+                _("Delete"), lambda: self.delete_heirs(selected_keys)
             )
         menu.exec(self.viewport().mapToGlobal(position))
 
@@ -2571,8 +2579,6 @@ class HeirList(MyTreeView, MessageBoxMixin):
     #        selected_keys.append(sel_key)
     #    return selected_keys
     def update(self):
-        if self.maybe_defer_update():
-            return
         current_key = self.get_role_data_for_current_item(
             col=self.Columns.NAME, role=self.ROLE_HEIR_KEY
         )
@@ -2610,6 +2616,7 @@ class HeirList(MyTreeView, MessageBoxMixin):
                 set_current = QPersistentModelIndex(idx)
         self.set_current_idx(set_current)
         # FIXME refresh loses sort order; so set "default" here:
+        self.repaint()
         self.filter()
         run_hook("update_heirs_tab", self)
         self.update_will_settings()