Legal Issues With Inlaws

[carrieboo]

I just recently learned that my fiance's parents are now wanting to dispute their decision to sign over the estate of my late fiance to me. I can't deal with going through this all over again....if this happened less than 12 months later we would have been married and none of this would have been an issue. It seems its all about the money. Has anyone had to deal with similar issues? I dont' know if I will get through this...

[KathyG]

Carrieboo,

I've experienced some problems with in-laws, so I know how much anguish they cause. My husband's relatives haven't questioned my legal right to inherit everything he left behind. But without any prompting I gave them some of Bill's belongings that I felt they should have or I knew I wouldn't use: the family Bible recording all the family history, Bill's coin collection, an almost-new electronic keyboard, some things that belonged to his mother, etc.

Shortly after that, they broke off contact with me and we haven't spoken since.

Why some people think things and money are more important than relationships is beyond me. It sounds like some "helpful" friend of your fiance's parents may have stepped in and encouraged them to get what they can from his estate. While they may have a legal claim, morally they're wrong for doing this, especially since they're reneging on their promise that the estate would go to you. And I'm sure this is not how your fiance would have wanted his parents to treat you.

Hire a good attorney who's an expert in family law, and stand your ground. Don't allow your fiance's parents' betrayal to trouble you much; if they were people worth staying connected to, they wouldn't be fighting you when they should be grieving with you. Best of luck.

[carrieboo]

Thanks Kathy, part of me is so exhausted from dealign with this that I just want to give them money and never have contact wtih them again. I Know its morally wrong, and I did tell her that months ago when she brought this up before...she kept reiterating that "legally" common-law meant nothing when you die and they were entitled to everything...forget the fact that I had the wedding dress, engagement ring, place picked out, people asked to stand, etc....or the fact that they said the house was mine shortly after the accident. Now, over a year later after they signed everything, this happens. I am sure my fiance wouldn't have wanted this to happen. I just don't know if I have the energy to deal with this process.

[kayc]

Carrieboo,

If they signed everything over a year ago, how CAN they legally do anything now?

I am so sorry you are going through this, it would have grieved your fiance to no end.

[cheryl lee]

Carrieboo, this is a rotten thing,I know what your going through, but I have not had to deal with this. Family can turn into an ugly thing, my husband and I went through it when his dad died. Thats why he was estranged from his family when he died. He made me promise that I would,nt tell them, I am having a hard time not, and I take a lot of guff about not doing it. But I feel if I did tell them, I'd say why isn't you instead of him. But the biggest thing is he made me promise him, and by god I will keep that promise.You hang in there, You got robbed,You were planning your life, and you got robbed.Take care,Cheryl Lee

[Guest moparlicious]

Carrieboo,

That is awful you have to go through the heartache. You deserve it, for your loved one would have wanted you to have the estate. Its sad how "family" can turn so nasty, when the truth is we all are hurting so much, we should be supporting each other and end the triva bickering. We all are hurting very much. I am suing the hospital,dr's and specialists because of malpractice on my husband. Many mistakes were made and the PCP even told us to go somewhere else after the 15th hospitalization, and he stated he could not do anything else for my husband,we had to find a new hospital, oncologist and specialist in a matter of a 1/2 an hour. Now that some "family" members found this out they began to call to "check" on me. Hmmmm the intent is unknown and defenitly unwanted!!!!! Hang in there, its been signed over to you, done deal!!!!!! Love, Kim

[carrieboo]

Thanks guys, I hope so...i'll write more when I see my lawyer tomorrow

[carrieboo]

My lawyer also says they cannot come back on their deal, unless they have proof that I forced them to sign (which how could I , we were in separate towns...I didn't hold a gun to their head, and there was a clause in the agreement that I handed over a specified amount of money for them signing over the house). So if they didnt' know what they were doing, why ask for this money in return?

They are downplaying my emotions in this agreement stating they were going through a rough time and I took advantage of them...I was 27 and have never gone through such an event in my life, how could I know what I was doing let alone take advantage of them?? Even if I knew what I was doing I could never take advantage of someone in my life!! In my eyes it was my house as well as his, we both picked out the plans and built it from the ground, and I lived there with him for 5 years. I had a full-time job, I paid bills, bought groceries, bought items for the house, and I even had my wedding dress.

I hate confrontation and cannot believe they are doing this, even if they bring this to court and they don't win, it will just tear open these wounds again. Building scars upon scars.

[kayc]

Carrieboo,

Stick to your guns and let your lawyer fight for you...of course you didn't take advantage of them, why do they want to benefit from his death monetarily anyway? It was you and him that were joined financially as well as in every other way, it is to you that it should go...he would not want you to suffer unnecessarily from his death.