Philip asks :

Hi Lucy, 

My partner is concerned that I have left the house in my will to my daughter. She will be homeless should I die, I am 68 years old and she is 61.

 

Hi Philip,

Agony Aunts on Female First

Agony Aunts on Female First

If it's legally your house- you are entitled to give it to whomever you want in your will.

Many parents will act in the interests of their child if they are not married to their partner, if their current partner is not the parent of their child or their partner has not contributed towards the house in any way. There are many different factors to consider here.

With that said, it is understandable that she might be worried about where she would go if the worst happened. Her reaction may also be dependent on how long you have been together.

Could you seek some professional advice on what to do in such a situation? Perhaps you could ask someone who is an expert in this field about the best course of action. It may mean adding something extra into your will.

Another option is to ask your partner and daughter to come to some sort of verbal agreement that suits them both. If your daughter will move into the house- perhaps they could agree on a reasonable amount of time to allow your partner to move out. If she plans to sell it- could the same agreement be applied? Does your partner and daughter have a good relationship? If they do, this might be an easy conversation- if not- then you may need to look for another solution that's more formal and legal to give you and your partner some peace of mind.

It's possible that all three of you need to sit down together and discuss the 'what ifs' so you are all clear on what will happen if this situation were to present itself.


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