This is complicated

Katykat

Thanks to everyone, it helps to know that people dont think I'm being selfish. I know it sounds like a cliche, but I'm not even worried about the money. I'm in a comfortable position ( in some ways through following advice on this website) and I own my own home with my hubby ( which by the way we have just transferred to "tennants in Common" rather than Joint Tennants as your parents did Pulliptears,) so now it is just about the fairness. It isn't even the sentimentality of the house, as it wasn't the house I was brought up in. My dad sold that house after mum died and he remarried. Step mum didn't have her own house, but they bought it in joint names. To make it worse, she has stated to many people that she wants the house to come to me. Its just that she is now not allowed to make the will. There may be very little left if she lives for a long time but if she died tomorrow she will leave thousands and there is no one to inherit as she never had chidren, no siblings either. I daresay one of these "Will Hunter companies" will find a distant relative somewhere, or it will end up lining the Chancellors coffers.

Tea anyone???????

Savvy_Sue

Is she completely and permanently without mental competence? If she is sometimes 'with it', then I believe that a solicitor could draw up a will in one of her lucid periods, and get it signed and witnessed in another - am I right Bossyboots?

Even if I'm wrong, then I am sure that you are entitled to claim any reasonable expenses for any of the work you do wrt the Power of Attorney you hold. And when I say 'reasonable', I believe that could include not just postage, photocopying etc but also an allowance for the time it takes you to do things on your stepmum's behalf. Again, Bossyboots will correct me if I'm wrong ...

Katykat

I think you're correct Savvy. My solicitor has advised that she could do this. problem is, she wouldn't make a will when she was well ( she believed she would die as soon as she made one!!!!!!!!) so I'm not hopeful. I'll have a go though, when I feel she is having a "good day"

cannylass_2

no new advice, just wanted to send you some hugs. sounds like you are in a dreadful position and are doing what your dad would have wanted in visiting your step-mum. nothing remotely selfish in what you are doing imho.

good luck with it all.