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My dad and Charlotte have been together for about 35 years.  They have never married. They live together and she has been there for him every step of the way as his health issues mounted. Heart issues, a serious stroke, and late onset Parkinsons to name a few.


He owns a house in Pennsylvania in 12 acres worth around 150k. It's been in the family since 1993. 7 years ago he put it in an irrevocable trust for his 4 children. My sister Christine is the POA. 6 months ago Charlotte announced in a text that "it's time to sell the house because her and my dad have no use for it anymore." We love Charlotte and she's been an angel for our dad taking care of his every need. That being said she is a bully and it's her way or the highway. My dad receives about 6k a month between SS and his pension check. We never seriously looked into where that money went every month because she took care of him and also it was probably none of our business. The 4 of us were busy with our families and our own "stuff."


I mentioned to Charlotte that selling the house is not her decision it's the decision of the trust as far a I know. After some back and forth she says she is not paying the expenses on the house any more. Notice she says she not we her and my dad. Myself and my siblings would rather not sell. We still enjoy it with our kids many times a year. According to what the trust says my dad is responsible for expenses and upkeep until he passes or the house is sold. We checked with the lawyer and that is the case. Our dad did this for us out of the goodness of his heart. In fact it's one of the few things he has done for us.


It seems to us that she is trying to control and or sabotage the one thing he's given to us. Does she have any say at all as to when this house gets sold or whether or not my dad continues to pay expense and upkeep? I'm furious and let her know in no uncertain terms. My brother could care less and my sisters are also upset. Where do we go with this? Charlotte says she spoke to our dad and he agrees on selling g it and not paying the expenses any more. The expenses amount to about $500 a month. A: we don't know if she actually spoke to him. B: we don't know if he's capable of understanding whats going on. C: we don't know if she is threatening him to agree with her. When I mentioned to her that she always texts or says I not we she says its because he's not capable of fully understanding what's going on. In the next sentence she says she ran it by him and he agrees with her. Can't have it both ways either he DOES understand and agrees with her or he DOESN'T and she's full of crap saying he does. Please advise. thank you.

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When was the most recent time you were with your father face-to-face? You seem to know little about his condition, his decision-making ability, or his preferences. Why is all your contact going through Charlotte?

If the $500 a month is the only issue about the house, would each of you kids be willing to pay $125/month to keep it in the family? Your dad has no further use for it; maybe those who do should pick up the costs.

But it may well be the $150,000 they want. Chronic health problems at the end of life can be EXTREMELY expensive! He sure wouldn't be the first parent who intended to leave something for his children and who was not in fact able to do that, because of healthcare expenses. Could you and your sibs buy this property?

How much involvement has POA Christine had in managing financial affairs?

Have you discussed with the lawyer what your options are at this point?
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I would say that if Christine was made POA when Dad was of sound mind, it is her decision whether or not to sell that property in PA. However, I can understand how Charlotte feels as well, as I am sole caregiver and financial “manager” for my husband. Is Charlotte on Dad’s bank accounts? Has she been responsible for paying all the bills in the past? As I read your posts and try to gain understanding of your situation, Charlotte has been pretty much solely responsible for Dad for 3 decades while you and sibs were on about your own business. Now, Dad’s mental and physical health is deteriorating even further. Charlotte has probably “had it”, is burned out and is looking towards the future. You accuse her of being a “bully”, but when you’re sole caregiver for someone for that long, it’s a given you will get a little cranky.  She may resent your accusations and insinuations because you all were content to let her handle things for so long and now...well, not so much. 

Not to be judgmental, but it doesn’t sound like you’ve been very involved with Dad and Charlotte to the extent that you have a good knowledge of where his money has gone and for what,  not to mention what caring for him for all those years must have been like for Charlotte. You insinuate that you don’t know where his money has gone and maybe Charlotte has done something untoward with it. You’ll need proof.  Does your sister with the POA know what his expenses are, if he has any savings, etc.? When I was POA for my mom, I had to account for every penny, before and after her death, receipts and all. Or, is your sister content to let Charlotte handle all this and be POA in name only. 

Instead of guesses, suspicions, accusations and hurt feelings that could blow up into full-scale war if left to fester, call a family meeting at the attorney’s office. Charlotte needs to be there. And, so does your father if he’s able. And of course Sister with the POA. You also don’t seem very cognizant of Dad’s mental state. You take Charlotte’s word for things but then doubt that word. You need to have a family meeting with the attorney as a moderator and referee if needed.
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It sounds like you're not close to your father since you don't really know what his cognitive state is. In my opinion, your primary interest should be that your father gets the care he needs by using the money he has. That's his money, not yours. He's chosen to live with Charlotte for 35 years, so that's his "wife" for all intents and purposes.

If it was me, I'd talk to my siblings and those of you who want to keep the place, I'd split the yearly costs with them and assume them going forward. Your dad is giving you a gift of the property. I wouldn't start a war over the yearly upkeep costs.

I'd also try to spend some time with my dad in his final years. The time I spent with my mom and dad was a blessing to me. I hope you don't lose that opportunity. Focus on your dad and not on the property.
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Do I gather that the bottom line is that your father and his long term partner are paying $500 a month to maintain a house for which they have no use that you and your siblings and your families enjoy spending occasional vacations at?

It may be that the trust commits your father to this spending. I glean from your rather hurt-sounding comment that it is one of the few things he has ever done for you that you are indeed feeling upset and angry about this disagreement, rather than its being a serious summary of his merits as a father?

Do you and any siblings you can persuade to take an interest in the matter really feel that you should hold your father to this obligation? What about taking over the house altogether and splitting the upkeep among you, instead?
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The key word here is irrevocable. The Trustee would be the only one who could sell the house and the proceeds remain with the Trust.
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Is it possible for an irrevocable trust to stipulate that the trustee can sell the house, but the proceeds must be retained in the trust? That way the beneficiaries would eventually receive the money, but meantime, since the house is gone, there are no upkeep, insurance, etc. issues.
It seems that the children were happy enough that Charlotte was taking care of their dad - for 30 years. To me, that means that she has some real "sweat equity" in this situation and it is unreasonable and mean for the kids to take the attitude that she should have no "power" or say in the situation.
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I read it as a "vacation" house, separate from where they live, but maybe I read that wrong. I don't see how the children could enjoy it "many times a year" but not know about their dad's physical/mental condition. Clarification would help.
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It seems to me that the real thorn on the rose is the ongoing maintenance costs rather than the capital - father and partner are burdened with it and getting nothing from it.

So, if that is also part of the trust's terms and the trust can't be varied, what would happen if father simply didn't have the money to pay?
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I’m a bit confused. If the house is in an irrevocable trust for you and your siblings, how can it be sold? That’s kinda the deal with irrevocably trust - the irrevocabllity...
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I really don’t think the Trust is the issue here, though I may be wrong. Our OP and his family have been content to let Dad’s long-time partner handle things for decades while they went about their lives. OP seems to have no clue as to his father’s physical or mental health. OP seems to have the idea that partner is brainwashing Dad into selling property that perhaps Dad and partner are not legally able to sell. But OP has no idea what goes on between Dad and partner, this is purely “guessology” on OP’s part. Although OP has claimed to “love” partner, OP hasn’t done much in their posts other than make unfounded accusations. We’ve all made suggestions and asked questions. OP has not agreed to take any of our suggestions to heart, including mine of calling a family meeting with the lawyer. I firmly believe that until this happens with all players present including Dad’s partner and the family attorney, no viable solution will ever be reached.
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