PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.

We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum. This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that dates on the Forum are not currently showing correctly. Please bear with us while we get this fixed, and see Site feedback for updates.

Legal Help Needed: Transfer of Equity from the sale of my bothers house

Context; I have lasting power of attorney over my mentally ill brother. He is in hospital at present but we decided to sell the house he lived in prior to his admittance. He cannot go back to living on his own.
The house was put in his name following the death of my mother, but after the sale of the property (if he isn't going to be living in it anymore) the proceeds are to be split between the 3 siblings. Me and my 2 brothers.
Problem: I am not sure where he will go after the mental health hospital and what they are going to use for funding. My brother gets the full PIP payment and Universal Credit - currently suspended but will be re-instated when he leaves hospital.
I need to do this legally and I need some sound advice as the property is only my brothers whilst he lived in it and ii need to ensure the proceeds are split upon the sale of the house.
This is time critical. Thank you
«1

Comments

  • That clearly should read:

    Legal Help Needed: Transfer of Equity from the sale of my brothers house

  • I think you're right, you do need legal advice and the best place to get that is from a Solicitor.

    If you shop around, you could probably find one that does a free initial consultation.

    I'm suggesting this because questions could potentially be asked about why you sold his house when he hasn't got anywhere else to live.

    That aside, if he is required to pay for his care, presumably he can use his share of the proceeds from his house sale.
  • doodling
    doodling Posts: 1,179 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Hi,

    You need to see a solicitor (preferably STEP qualified) ASAP with a copy of your mother's will.

    I assume that the will created a trust and that your brother was the beneficiary of that trust.  I assume that you are a trustee.

    By virtue of having a LPoA you need to act in your brother's best interests in dealing with his affairs.

    By virtue of being a trustee you need to follow the terms of the trust.

    You really don't want to be in a position where you could be accused of not doing either of those things.

    Arrange a meeting with a solicitor as soon as possible 
  • Rebecca74 said:
    Context; I have lasting power of attorney over my mentally ill brother. He is in hospital at present but we decided to sell the house he lived in prior to his admittance. He cannot go back to living on his own.
    The house was put in his name following the death of my mother, but after the sale of the property (if he isn't going to be living in it anymore) the proceeds are to be split between the 3 siblings. Me and my 2 brothers.
    Problem: I am not sure where he will go after the mental health hospital and what they are going to use for funding. My brother gets the full PIP payment and Universal Credit - currently suspended but will be re-instated when he leaves hospital.
    I need to do this legally and I need some sound advice as the property is only my brothers whilst he lived in it and ii need to ensure the proceeds are split upon the sale of the house.
    This is time critical. Thank you
    Did your mother’s will bequeath her house solely to your brother or to all 3 of you? Following her death why was the house put solely in one brother’s name? Did your mother and brother own the house as joint tenants therefore making him the sole owner as the surviving joint tenant? 

    As your brother’s PoA you need to act in his best interests. How is giving away 2/3 of the value of his house in his best interests? 
  • chanz4
    chanz4 Posts: 11,051 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    I would argue that his house is a home, and in home care could be arranged
    Don't put your trust into an Experian score - it is not a number any bank will ever use & it is generally a waste of money to purchase it. They are also selling you insurance you dont need.
  • propertyrental
    propertyrental Posts: 3,391 Forumite
    1,000 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 9 January 2024 pm31 9:06PM
    As others have said, more information is needed and you need speciaslist advice. But going purely on what you have posted:

    • if your brother owns the house, then your brother should receive 100% of the sale proceeds
    • as POA, you have a duty to ensure he gets what is his - dividing the proceeds 3 ways could easily be seen as a conflict of interest espically if you yourself are benefitting to the tune of 33%!
    • Your brother's entitlement to continued Universal Credit and/or other benefits is very likely to be re-assessed on the basis that he has an large lump. I'm no benefits expert but I'm pretty sure if you have more than (£18K?) savings UC is reduced/removed.
    • Whereas ownership of a home/property almost certainly does not affect UC (I think) - so is selling wise?

    But the whole situation isn likely more complex than the basic facts you've posted.
  • poppy12345
    poppy12345 Posts: 18,811 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
     I'm no benefits expert but I'm pretty sure if you have more than (£18K?) savings UC is reduced/removed.
    Whereas ownership of a home/property almost certainly does not affect UC (I think) - so is selling wise?


    Savings/capital of more than £16,000 will mean all entitlement to means tested benefits will end. Only the home you live in is disregarded.

  • Was your brother given a life interest in the property via an immediate post death interest trust? 
  • doodling
    doodling Posts: 1,179 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Hi,
    Was your brother given a life interest in the property via an immediate post death interest trust? 
    There are a lot of hints in the OP's post that some kind of trust is in place but we cannot be certain.

    If there is a trust, the key question would be whether it is a traditional life interest or whether it was tailored to the fact that the brother is ill.  In the latter case, the trust might have some unusual features which limit what the trustee can do, even if the brother is no longer able to live there.

    Irrespective of the nature (or existence) of any trust, there is a real risk that others (e.g. authorities responsible for her brother's care) will see the OP's role as attorney and their role in selling her brother's property and giving the proceeds to someone else as being in conflict, potentially leaving the OP open to legal action.  The OP needs to have a clear understanding of their responsibilities in those two roles and if there is a conflict, to find a way of managing it without ending up on the wrong end of a court case.  I certainly wouldn't attempt this without legal advice.
  • sheramber
    sheramber Posts: 21,010 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped! Name Dropper
    but we decided to sell the house he lived in prior to his admittance. 

    What were your plans for his residence  once you had sold the house?
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 348.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 452.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 241K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 617.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 175.7K Life & Family
  • 254.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 15.1K Coronavirus Support Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.