Refusing to sign transfer deed

TBagpuss

I'm sorry that you are caught up in this.

As others have said, if she continues to be awkward she's likely to end up with a huge bill (which ultimately could result in her new property being repossessed) 

In theory, it's possible  she might also find herself being committed to prison for contempt of court, if a Judge ordered her to complete the paperwork and she didn't, although I suspect that the buyers lawyers might instead just apply for an order allowing her conveyancers or the Judge to sign on her behalf.

I agree that, unless you are also a party to the sale, that you ask the solicitor to stop copying you in, on the basis that you have no influence over her and are unable to assist. 

If you (or your spouse) are parties to the sale then you probably need to get your own separate advice bout what you can do to ensure that any costs land on her not you. 

jwright

Thanks for the replies. I’m not party to the transaction, or any other transaction with my MIL thankfully.

She caused other problems earlier in the transaction for the estate agent who copied me in on a different email exchange (where she had the estate agent fees removed from the completion statement then didn’t pay them although that was eventually resolved) that also included the solicitor and the solicitor has my details from that.

I think he’s just desperate for help. I did phone him and say verbally that i tried to talk to her but failed and I was sick of being in the middle of her problems and would rather be left out of it. An hour later I was copied in again so perhaps I need to put that in writing instead.

As for my husband/ her son, after a lifetime of her behaviour and more recently the way she treated my now deceased FIL he can barely stand to be in the same room as her. And other family members, there is only a cousin of my husband who avoids her at all costs. She has two friends left and one is trying to help us and we can’t get hold of the other one.

GDB2222

jwright said:

Thanks for the replies. I’m not party to the transaction, or any other transaction with my MIL thankfully.

She caused other problems earlier in the transaction for the estate agent who copied me in on a different email exchange (where she had the estate agent fees removed from the completion statement then didn’t pay them although that was eventually resolved) that also included the solicitor and the solicitor has my details from that.

I think he’s just desperate for help. I did phone him and say verbally that i tried to talk to her but failed and I was sick of being in the middle of her problems and would rather be left out of it. An hour later I was copied in again so perhaps I need to put that in writing instead.

As for my husband/ her son, after a lifetime of her behaviour and more recently the way she treated my now deceased FIL he can barely stand to be in the same room as her. And other family members, there is only a cousin of my husband who avoids her at all costs. She has two friends left and one is trying to help us and we can’t get hold of the other one.

Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! 

The only saving grace is that you are not entwined in all this. As I said before, I think the solicitor must be pretty desperate. He/she probably certified to the purchaser's solicitor that they were in possession of a signed TR1, only to notice later that they weren't!

The only thing I can see that might work is to ask MIL how much of a bribe she would want to sign the TR1?

Xenon

If i was the OP i would simply walk away and leave her MIL to it...if she is going to act like this then she deserves what is coming

wilfred30

I agree.  She sounds like a right piece of work!

OP - just stop getting involved and let her get on with it.  If her own son can't stand her, I don't quite understand why you think you should help her.

HampshireH

Walk away. She is not your responsibility. If her mental capacity is being called into question then the solicitor should never allowed her to sign the paperwork she did.

If your husband is done with her take his lead and step away.

Send a email to the solicitor advising your not interested and any further correspondence will be ignored. You aren't their client.

I really feel for the buyers here but again they also aren't your problem as harsh as that sounds.

csgohan4

Could you give mental health as an excuse in court and never was in a fit state to sell the house, leaving the buyer out of pocket and null the transaction?

Maybe deliberate and having cold feet?

Thrugelmir

GDB2222 said:

jwright said:

Thanks for the replies. I’m not party to the transaction, or any other transaction with my MIL thankfully.

She caused other problems earlier in the transaction for the estate agent who copied me in on a different email exchange (where she had the estate agent fees removed from the completion statement then didn’t pay them although that was eventually resolved) that also included the solicitor and the solicitor has my details from that.

I think he’s just desperate for help. I did phone him and say verbally that i tried to talk to her but failed and I was sick of being in the middle of her problems and would rather be left out of it. An hour later I was copied in again so perhaps I need to put that in writing instead.

As for my husband/ her son, after a lifetime of her behaviour and more recently the way she treated my now deceased FIL he can barely stand to be in the same room as her. And other family members, there is only a cousin of my husband who avoids her at all costs. She has two friends left and one is trying to help us and we can’t get hold of the other one.

 As I said before, I think the solicitor must be pretty desperate. 

Taking the matter to court will result in a huge bill with any number of untold consequences. As one assumes the individual is unlikely to follow the Court's instructions either. Resolving in a conciliatory manner is the desired outcome and best for all parties concerned. . 

GDB2222

Thrugelmir said:

GDB2222 said:

jwright said:

Thanks for the replies. I’m not party to the transaction, or any other transaction with my MIL thankfully.

She caused other problems earlier in the transaction for the estate agent who copied me in on a different email exchange (where she had the estate agent fees removed from the completion statement then didn’t pay them although that was eventually resolved) that also included the solicitor and the solicitor has my details from that.

I think he’s just desperate for help. I did phone him and say verbally that i tried to talk to her but failed and I was sick of being in the middle of her problems and would rather be left out of it. An hour later I was copied in again so perhaps I need to put that in writing instead.

As for my husband/ her son, after a lifetime of her behaviour and more recently the way she treated my now deceased FIL he can barely stand to be in the same room as her. And other family members, there is only a cousin of my husband who avoids her at all costs. She has two friends left and one is trying to help us and we can’t get hold of the other one.

 As I said before, I think the solicitor must be pretty desperate. 

Taking the matter to court will result in a huge bill with any number of untold consequences. As one assumes the individual is unlikely to follow the Court's instructions either. Resolving in a conciliatory manner is the desired outcome and best for all parties concerned. . 

Yes, that’s the rational outcome. Trouble is that MIL is not being very rational.  

anotheruser

You need to let go of this and not be involved if you are not the purchaser.
You should tell the purchaser to begin legal proceedings.  It will either speed up the seller's mind or be one step ahead if they continue not to sign.

These are the only two viable options that do not waste time messing about.
The person isn't going to suddenly wake up and think they'll happily sign.  It needs to be done through force.

Alternatively, stay involved and spend months, potentially years with this issue.