Poll: Estate Issues

[MystikMango]

I have a slight "future" problem and was looking to gain some insight from ATOT.

My father has a house in Florida, and I am the beneficiary according to his will. He has a live-in girlfriend of the past 7 years. I have wondered what to do with the girlfriend if my father should pass (71 now) away. I have tried to talk to my father about this, but he avoids this topic as best he can. I guess he doesn?t like thinking about his own death since it is so close (maybe 5-10 years left).

I?m totally neutral towards his girlfriend, even though I am cordial to her whenever I talk to her on the phone. She tries too hard to win my affections, even resorting to the use of phrases like ?I love you ? and ?God bless you? at the end of conversations.

If you were in this situation, would you charge the girlfriend rent, kick her out after a few months (let her grieve) or let things continue as they are.

What I would not like to see happen is her bringing in another male, or even worse, have her die in the house.

EDIT: Oops, I forgot to mention that I live in California.

 

[MystikMango]

bump

 

[Ryan]

Tell her that she has to go. Give her time to find a new place, but she'll have to go.

 

[Yossarian]

If you can afford it, I would let her stay for free for a set amount of time (couple months), then either charge fair rent or kick her to the curb if you want to sell the place.

 

[MystikMango]

The house is 2 blocks from the beach, 45 minutes from Daytona and Orlando... I won't be selling it.

 

[Bowmaster]

Ever hear of "Common Law wife"?

The minute your father passes on, she will claim the house - or at least half of it. A very big (expensive) lawyer fight will ensue, with you losing either way (either she will get half the house, or you will win if they haven't been together very long but losing a lot of money to lawyers).

This is not pretty - your father will not do anything about it, leaving you with the mess after he goes.

Good Luck!

 

[gopunk]

how old is she?

 

[axelfox]

If you really need it, talk to an atty.

 

[MystikMango]

I'm not sure of her exact age, but am guessing around 55. She has several kids, and one is 32.

As for the common-law-marriage crap... only 12 states allow common-law-marriages, while many more will accept common-law-marriage from other states. The following are the only states that allow for it:

Alabama
Colorado
Iowa
Kansas
New Hamspire
Montana
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
... and the Distric of Columbia

 

[TranceNation]

I think that you should consider how much your dad loves her and how much she loved him. After all, I bet that if you dad loves her alot that he'd want you to take good care of her.

 

[Yax]

Sell the house, then she'd have to move. Its not good for her to be dependent on him like that anyway.