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7 years ago, my husband and I purchased a home with his parents. It was 50/50. FIL now wants his half, left to the other 3 children, because he got mad 4 years ago, that his golden child (son from 1st marriage) was mistreated by my husband (1/2 brother). My husband has always been a scapegoat for my narcissistic FIL. Sister (1/2 sister, same mother) has been instructed to come after us for FIL contribution, after he dies. He denies this. He loves to attack us verbally, whenever possible. The past 4 years have been hell on earth. He has turned the whole family against us, so we have no support system. The MIL knows nothing about FIL's smear campaign. When we try to tell her about it, she says that it's too hard to believe. She is the ostrich of the family. She just wants everyone to get along. FIL is mean and hateful, when she is not around. He is almost 94 and a diabolical liar. We made a contract years ago and all four of us signed it in front of a notary public. The contract states that if one of us passes away, the three remaining will own the home, and so on, until there is only one. Even though the deed is in our name only, we constructed this contract to make sure that it was fair to all four of us.


The father in law told my husband's half sister to wait and come after the money when he dies, because he doesn't want to be a part of it, even though he started this entire battle. He has destroyed this family. The house was paid, in full, 7 years ago. My husband and I had to take out a mortgage for home upgrades. We are stuck here. Any ideas on ways we can protect ourselves from the SIL?

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No, you are not "stuck here". I would not waste any of my money consulting any attorneys. You have a deed in yours and husband's names. You have a notarized contract regarding the house. When FIL dies, let *his* daughter waste *her* money trying to get stone from a blood. Worry about it then, not now. Worrying is useless and will only cost you precious time and energy.

Do not say anything to FIL, MIL or SIL about this. Do not get roped into conversations about the house. You and your husband act like everything is fine because it is fine; you have a deed and a contract. FIL's are the rantings of a narcissist whose perhaps coming unhinged with reality. Ignore FIL and SIL.
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Shell38314 Apr 2020
See that is all I was trying to say! I agree with you NYDaughter 100%. Let the SIL waste her time and money!!
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Be sure and keep track of the hours spent caregiving for your father in law, that way you can present the bill to his estate when he dies. That should keep his other kids from trying to steal your home.

Thank you for sharing your story, hopefully it stops anyone else from making the same mistake that you made.

Caregiving has really made me feel like no good deed goes unpunished. You help the needy elder and some how you end up being the bad guy. What!?!?

Thank God that you have the deed in your name, that is the legal proof of ownership. So grin and bear it knowing that you hold all the aces.

Great big warm hug! You guys didn't deserve his garbage and the family turning on you. Go make your own family with people that love you and whom you love.
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happyandchirpy Apr 2020
Thank you realyreal! You are awesome!! Best hug ever!
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I think if the deed is in your name only and you have that contract, your SIL will be out of luck, but you will likely need a lawyer, but it wont be a big deal
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happyandchirpy Apr 2020
Thank you DD! The SIL lives far, far away. She never spent time with mother and step father. She just loves drama and to fight for control. I still find it hard to believe that my husband's own father would betray him like this and turn everyone in the family against him. Poor kid! Yeah, and living here is just wonderful! I mostly stay upstairs and they are downstairs. Due to this lockdown, I feel even more alone.
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I vote you ignore him and all the others who are on the drama train. If they already have their undies in a bundle, then ignoring them won't matter. It is entirely possible he has cognitive decline and is imagining all sorts of things that didn't really happen, or is obsessing on something and having it get blown out of proportion in his broken brain. I don't think you'll ever know for sure unless you are living with him every day. My aunt with dementia does this and we just ignore it because we know why it's happening. It doesn't always make it hurt less, however. I wish you peace in your hearts that for some problems there are just no good solutions.
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happyandchirpy -

By law, when it comes to real estate, if it's not in writing, it didn't happen.
Unless the in-laws have paperwork that shows they legally own 1/2 of the house, then they have no claim to the house.

So, this is a verbal agreement? If so, morally, they do own 1/2 of the house as you said you bought the house with the in-laws and it's a 50/50 ownership. Why was it not in writing? What did they originally agree to do with their 1/2 of ownership? Give to you/your children?

Edit to add: I read your reply that you agree to live with them and take care of them in exchange for them paying 1/2 of the house. Understood.
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happyandchirpy Apr 2020
HI PB! We never would have agreed to the deal, if we had to go into debt to be their caregivers.... It was not 50/50 ownership, ever. They actually just went from one house to another, only with live-in caregivers to bully. We spent thousands for them to move here and 150 thousand on home improvements after we moved here. They have no property taxes, no home insurance payments or mortgage, or yardwork on 5 acres. We wait on them and clean up after these two. They are like two messy teenagers. Clueless!
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I just read again. The contract is set up as like jointly held with rights of survivorship of the original group. Can’t leave your interest outside the original joint group. Let SIL FIL and anyone else pound sand.
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happyandchirpy Apr 2020
Thank you Guestshopadmin! Pound sand! A whole beachful!
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The only way for him to leave his “interest” in the property to anyone is if he is listed on the title and you all hold AS TENANTS IN COMMON. This means each persons interest in said home goes to their delegated beneficiary. If the title is held AS JOINT TENANTS then it reverts to the last remaining survivor automatically.
if his name is not on title he has no say at all. Period. End game!
The mortgage belongs to the ones who applied for it and regardless who or how title is held, it must be satisfied before selling or liquidation.
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happyandchirpy May 2020
True dat Power3! Thank you for your feedback!
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I feel for you, but I think if the house in only in your name you will be OK. You say FIL denies telling SIL to "go after you".. can you get that on a recording somehow? I don't care if its legal ( sorry, not sorry) , just do it. It's something at least! My BIL and SIL "offered" to take care of my FIL if he bought a big house for all of them to live in.. he did, but at least its in his name and not all their names. He is miserable, and they have all been to the lawyer several times as they want more and more.. We also have a "family " home. The deal is supposed to be that they get the big house, and we get the river home. BUT.. it is also the deal that "everything is 50/50. It was never specified that they would GET the house for the care. The latest story is that they will get the big pricey home in the ritzy area ( paid for totally) and we will get the river house and anything left. I'll believe it when the lawyers are done.. LOL.. At least you have the house in your names only,, I'd think a lawyer would agree that is how they wanted it, as that is what they did orginally! I joke that if we all end up owning the big house together,, I can move my 89 YO smoking and drinking mom into FILs old bedroom,, that ought to bring things to head.. LOL
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happyandchirpy Apr 2020
Thank you pamzimmrrt! Your feedback has been most helpful! Oh, and yeah, we have proof that FIL told SIL to wait until he's gone, before she starts her battle royale. He started this because my husband stood up to wife of FIL's golden child. ( son from first marriage) They were visiting and left abruptly, because she got called out on her bullying behavior towards me in my own home. FIL retaliated by starting a smear campaign as payback. Now, he wonders why everything is different around here. He wants it back like it was, where we all hung out together. (The 4 of us) He ruined all that. Broken, not bent.
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You have nothing to worry about since deed in your name. If you still have worries, please speak with Attorney who made it. Maybe he or she can suggest further protection...FIL may be developing dementia too & probably need nursing home care...Hugs 🤗
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happyandchirpy Apr 2020
Thank you CaregiverL! I appreciate your feedback! FIL is a narcissist and has always been saying and doing underhanded things. He tries to play the dementia card sometimes, like "I can't remember anything anymore", but he remembers everything. Like an elephant, except he keeps score. He uses a walker, but MIL waits on him hand and foot. He doesn't have the money for a NH. That's why my husband and I agreed to move in together with them. To take care of them, until they pass away. This is why we are stuck here! I will try not to worry. I must strengthen my faith. I'm such a weakling sometimes....
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I just read ur first response. Too many longgg responses to read all of them. So if I repeat, sorry.

The deed in your name and that contract shows Dad agreed to everything. The other thing going for you is you owned half the home before this agreement. Count in Caregiving. Any money you put out for them you got no return from. I think there is some decline here. For now, see a lawyer when u can. Let Dad say what he wants.

Just thinking here so take it with a grain of salt. Lets say when u took over the home it was worth 100k. Dad bought half for 50k. A few years later its worth 200k. (And u have put ur money into it to improve). Is Dad really entitled to half, 100k or his entitled to initial payment of 50k. And, over a period of time, Dad has saved on rent, utilities, taxes and insurances. So he has offset that 50K.
My opinion, the siblings are not entitled to anything to do with the house. This is just ramblings.
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happyandchirpy May 2020
Thank you JoAnn! You are very helpful! Stay safe!
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