Mary is really mad right?

Larla/OP- If you do keep the house and succeed in getting Mary out what is your plan for taxes and maintenance? Do you know how much this runs each year?

If I were in your shoes I would sell the house and invest the money using some of it to rent a modest place for myself. You're so young, live life a bit and don't be tied down to a house. What if you fall in love and want to move to be with someone or if they already have a place?

Mary is really mad right?

Everyone, Larla isn't just the niece, she's the GODDAUGHTER.

It makes sense that Thelma would leave a house to her young(ish) unmarried but on the right track student goddaughter and leave money and not the house to her children. Especially with one child being established with his own house and family and the other child a spinster squatter who never had to do much for herself. Roy and Mary are also in their 50s. Larla is basically a generation under them.

Op here.

I wasn't a minor when the will was written 5 yrs ago. Depending on the month it was drafted, I was either 19 or 20.

I think that plainly, my godmother left me the house as she has been attempting to kick her DD out for several decades. I don't feel entitled to the house just as I don't feel entitled to get my parent's house when they die. However, this house has been given to me an the reality is that I want to live there. My cousin has been cordial yet passive aggressive over the years and especially about her mother giving me gifts. About 3 yrs ago, my godmother invited me on a vacation, I was so excited and grateful so of course I accepted... not knowing that they had just had a fight and I would be taking my cousin's place on the vacation.

My grandmother and my dad both say that my godmother was tired of supporting her "ungrateful daughter" and that she should have kicked her out years ago.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay, I'm going to be completely honest here.

I am Larla, My parents were really shocked to when we found out the house is now mine. Like I said before, I'm in college and I work full time. My grandmother told me that her sister (Thelma's) thought process was that her son (Roy) has a house, several assets and has done well in life. That is why she didn't leave it to him. She left both her kids money but not the house.

Since I have already been called a bitch for even asking the question, I guess I can just let loose and be totally honest.

To the PP who wants to protect Mary and Roy's interest, what do you think that I am going to do if I take ownership of the house? I have not stolen anything from them and I don't plan to.

It's not that anyone thinks you've done or will do anything wrong, Larla. It's just that this is a very unusual fact situation. I've read a lot of wills in the process of doing historical research, and it is much more common for a family home to be left to the children of the owner of the home, not a more distant relative.

When a home is left to a more distant relative, there is typically a very specific reason for that action. In cases where there isn't a reason mentioned in the will, the children of the deceased sometimes challenge the will. If I were a friend of Mary or Roy in this case, I would suggest that they at least talk to a lawyer about the circumstances of this particular will.

Do your parents have any idea at all why Thelma would have left her home to you? Especially since, at the time the will was written, you were a minor.

Anonymous wrote:How much is the house worth?

$400K in a good market.

OP here. Okay, I'm going to be completely honest here.

I am Larla, My parents were really shocked to when we found out the house is now mine. Like I said before, I'm in college and I work full time. My grandmother told me that her sister (Thelma's) thought process was that her son (Roy) has a house, several assets and has done well in life. That is why she didn't leave it to him. She left both her kids money but not the house.

Since I have already been called a bitch for even asking the question, I guess I can just let loose and be totally honest.

To the PP who wants to protect Mary and Roy's interest, what do you think that I am going to do if I take ownership of the house? I have not stolen anything from them and I don't plan to.

What is your relationship to Larla, and to Mary and Roy? Not trying to out you; just wondering what you think of this situation?

How much is the house worth?

Mary and Roy should get together and consult a lawyer about this will. Something seems odd about this situation. Maybe it's completely on the up and up, but it would be worth it for them to at least talk to a lawyer to see if there's grounds to contest this will.

It's really unusual to give a family home to a niece/nephew without some very specific reason, which the OP has not stated. If I were Mary or Roy, I would not just walk away and say, "Oh, well!" I'd at least ask some of the questions presented in this thread and get some sound legal advice.

OP, can you show this thread to Mary and Roy and suggest that they make sure their interests are protected before it is too late?

Op here.

Not Larla's parent. Also, to the poster who doesn't understand why Larla's mom's coworker had to live with them, you have had a privileged life. That is all I have to say on that.

While T was alive, she gave very nice gifts to L, but not on a super grandiose scale. For example, she would give a check at Christmas to cover Spring semester textbooks. So very generous, but nothing crazy, which is why it took everyone by surprise that she left the house to Larla.

Mary and Thelma have had huge fights over the years. T telling M that she should leave. T seemed to think that M was flighty and she just wanted her to settle down and stick something out.

Currently, Mary is not upset about the house, just surprised. She thought it would be split between her and her sibling, Roy. Roy is upset, thinking that he would buy out his sister and just sell the house. Each child was left a good amount of money, over 100K each. Which is why it seems that M could just leave and get her own place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that Larla's parents pressured Thelma in some way to leave the house to Larla? If Mary can show that, than she would have good reason to challenge the will.

I am not a trusts and estates lawyer, but I have read a lot of wills and this is a really unusual set of facts.

OP is probably Larla's parent.

This is my impression too.

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that Larla's parents pressured Thelma in some way to leave the house to Larla? If Mary can show that, than she would have good reason to challenge the will.

I am not a trusts and estates lawyer, but I have read a lot of wills and this is a really unusual set of facts.

OP is probably Larla's parent.

Is it possible that Larla's parents pressured Thelma in some way to leave the house to Larla? If Mary can show that, than she would have good reason to challenge the will.

I am not a trusts and estates lawyer, but I have read a lot of wills and this is a really unusual set of facts.