Money Moral Dilemma: Should my sister-in-law give up her house after her husband's death?

MSE_Sarah

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

Her late husband's two grown-up kids will inherit it, but only after her death. It's large and they are pressuring her to downsize and give them the cash difference now. She's reluctant as it's been her home for 20+ years, and has all the memories of her husband.

Unfortunately the MSE team can't always answer money moral dilemma questions as contributions are often emailed in or suggested in person. They are intended to be enjoyed as a point of debate and discussed at face value.

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

Got a money moral dilemma of your own? [URL="mailto: mmd@moneysavingexpert.com"]Suggest an MMD[/URL].

[purplesignup][/purplesignup]

Comms69

I'd be inclined to suggest that's not quite true.


It seems likely the property is now hers and they will inherit only what she leaves them.

culpepper

Why should she leave it now?
It's hers to use until her death.
I think the step children see it as theirs now and that she is just allowed to live there but unless it specifically states that in their fathers will, they are wrong. Even if they were right, she has the use of it until she dies and where will she live if she sells? Won't the step children expect the full amount from the sale to be passed to them?
Above all else she needs a place to live that she can afford and that presumably is why the will was laid out in the way that it was.

Pixie5740

Either the husband left the house to this week's money saver or he left it to his children but with a life interest to this week's money saver allowing her to life in it until she passes (or decides to move). My advice, if this week's money saver is reading, is to tell the step children to "jog on." She's just lost her husband and should not be pressured into losing her home too.

If the husband did really leave the house to this week's money saver I would be tempted to change the will so when she passes the house goes to a charity or look into equity release, not to give the step children money but to enjoy myself.

PrettyKittyKat

Absolutely not. She lives in the house until she dies and then they inherit it and can do with it as they wish. She is dealing with the death of her husband, the last thing she needs is this pressure. They are being greedy.

clairec79

Unless SHE wants to downsize herself or can not cope with the size of the house (for example if her health is getting worse she may be better off on one floor) then no she shouldn't

phryne

They are wrong to be putting pressure on her, it's her house. She may even want to make a will that doesn't leave it to them!

Pollycat

What despicable people these sons sound.
I'd hope to live way past my 100th birthday and keep these grasping oiks waiting for their inheritance as long as possible.
And then may decide to set fire to the house on my deathbed. :rotfl:

And what has it to do with the sister-in-law anyway?

Pollycat

phryne wrote: »

They are wrong to be putting pressure on her, it's her house. She may even want to make a will that doesn't leave it to them!

It may be that the husband has left her a life interest in the house (not sure if that's the correct term) whereby she can live there until her death when the greedy !!!!!!s inherit.
I think it's fairly common in cases of second marriages where the original house owner wants to provide for a second spouse but keep the house in the family for children of the first spouse.

Archergirl

I hate these things, I like to know the outcome ..........

silvercar

Pollycat wrote: »

It may be that the husband has left her a life interest in the house (not sure if that's the correct term) whereby she can live there until her death when the greedy !!!!!!s inherit.
I think it's fairly common in cases of second marriages where the original house owner wants to provide for a second spouse but keep the house in the family for children of the first spouse.

Makes sense. Problem is whether legally she has the option to downsize, or does selling it mean the kids get the proceeds straight away leaving her homeless.