A few Questions, Advice Needed.

troubleinparadise

YBE - your father did recognise them by bequeathing them a share of an account (or similar).

Just because your father had owned a house some years ago there is no obligation on your part to gift them any of that.

I’d be amazed if there is any legal standing to demand that.

I’m sorry they have unresolved anger or resentment over the failure of their parents’ marriage and what they perceive his behaviour to have meant about his feelings for them. Divorce and relationship breakdown causes very long term damage.

But that doesn’t give them a legal standing to demand a share of a property that your father didn’t even own at the time of his death. They are using intimidation and manipulation to force this.

You may wish to gift them something, or not. But I rather think the relationship between you is irreparable now anyway whatever course of action you take.

YoungBlueEyes

Yep they were names beneficiaries and received thousands of pounds (75% of the bank account between them as 4 gave them her 25%).
I agree, it is awful. The pain and hurt they're still feeling all these decades on is terrible, and I can't see them ever finding any peace with it.
I do feel like it's bully-boy tactics to get some redress for their issues, but I don't feel I should be paying a five-figure sum for pain that I didn't cause, especially when the money won't help with the issues one wee bit. If I honestly believed that money could bring them some peace and resolution I'd have given them my 1/4 of the bank account when they asked for it at the start. I know we're not talking squillions of pounds here but £30,000+ is an awful lot of money to me, whereas it's a few handbags to them. Dad was well aware they're like this too, possibly why he didn't leave as much to them as he did to me + 4.
Yeah our relationships now are irretreivable. I could give them what they've asked for, but they'd still have issues, dad would still have left them, I'd still be the bad !!!!! for putting them through all this (a line which is often thrown at me) and I'd be much worse off. So what's the point?

troubleinparadise

Absolutely no point, and nothing could be achieved by it - I doubt it would mean the four of you could sit happily round a table, pleased that had all been sorted and put behind you.

I hope you are able to sleep a little better knowing you don’t have a case to answer, nor does their bluster about getting the Will invalidated or executors changed have any legal basis.

I’m only sorry that losing your father seems to have brought further unhappiness and family disharmony - caused solely by your half-siblings.

konark

Just ignore them they are whistling in the wind, you cannot put assets into a person's estate that have already been disposed of. Just sit back and wait for the 6 months from probate to be up , after which they won't be able to bring any legal action. You won't hear from any court as no solicitor in their right mind would think they have any chance of success.

YoungBlueEyes

Thanks everyone for your replies. You!!!8217;ve confirmed what I thought. Probate was granted a month ago, so still a long wait to go.
In the meantime me and 4 are getting the house turned round and ready to be sold (I can!!!8217;t afford to buy her out and I can!!!8217;t get a mortgage), so we!!!8217;re both house hunting now too.
Please god let that all be easier than this has been!

getmore4less

can you remind us how the house was owned when mum died and how, if she owned any, how that was distributed at that time.

Red-Squirrel_2

Has your sister given them her whole share?

YoungBlueEyes

Getmore4less - I don;t know. It;s always just been the family home, you don;t consider these things when you;re children. It was bought outright by dad when he retired. Dad might have put it in his and mum;s names, but I don;t know. If it was in both names, we didn;t inherit mum;s half when she died 23 years ago, but then it may have reverted back to dad? Dad retired after a lot of years in a very good job, mum only worked because she wanted to, not out of necessity. The house was certainly wholly dad;s when he transferred it to me +4. Now that I think about it, Im not sure if mum even had a will...
Red-Squirrel - No it isn;t her whole share. We each got £2078 from the bank account, the house has been valued at around £150k ish. She gave them her £2078 and now they;re getting another £30k from her. So very roughly half her share.

Red-Squirrel_2

Has the house been sold then? Sorry I was under the impression you lived in it for some reason.

YoungBlueEyes

Yeah me and 4 both live in it. 4 wants to move out quite quickly but I would love to be able to stay here. I cant afford to buy her out so we are having to sell. 4 can get a mortgage so she has better options when shes looking at houses. I have a finite pot.