Refusing to go to Probate

Silvertabby

NorthManc said:

Thanks for the comments,
We have had 3 valuations, both of us there.
we have gone for the lower one but he still states it’s worth less.
He wants the property but is unwilling to give me anything,(though he can afford it)
The house is not insured and needs work doing on it. He has contacted me to say the boiler needs replacing which he can get done for nothing as he is unemployed (claiming benefits which I sorted out for him) but he’s refusing this, wants me to get the boiler replaced as it’s ‘half my house’
I cannot have any reasonable conversation with him, I’m at my wits end

Oh my, I've just had a flash of deja vu! 

In my case, it was my sister who lived at home - but she managed to pursuade dad into making a death bed Will leaving the house to her alone, as I was married and had my own home.

The house was mortgage free, but in a very bad state of repair as dad had never willingly paid someone to do a job that he could bodge himself.  Had we both been left the house, there wouldn't have been any question of selling it and splitting the proceeds (because it was her home) nor would she have bought me out or paid rent for my half (because she had no money).  Instead, I would have had to deal with constant demands for money for essential repairs and probably utility bills and other expenses  (because it was my house as well).

She went bankrupt less than 2 years later, and the house had to be sold at auction because it was in such a bad state.

So, back to you.  Is the house really worth so little?  Can you afford to just walk away, for your own peace of mind instead of dragging this out just to pay shedloads of legal fees?  If so, hand over your share to your brother now.  Your brother may feel that he's won, but if your situation is anything like mine  (my sister bragged to everyone that she was a woman of property, whereas her older sister (me) still hadn't cleared her mortgage ) I still feel that I dodged a very big bullet.