Preventive Measures

[lance0351]

My wife and I approached her Grandmother about buying her house. My mother-in-law, who was caring for her, moved out about three months ago when she became engaged and rarely visits. My wife now does the most to care for her Grandmother. We have learned my mother-in-law would like to put her still competent mother into a nursing home because caring for her is getting to be too much. Grandma does not want to go. The problem is I estimate the house would sell for around 120,00 to 140,000 but we could probably only afford 75,000. Grandma would not have to pay for anything other than medications once we were in. What can we do before hand to prevent my mother-in-law from taking action against us saying we coerced Grandma into selling us the property for less than fair market value even though all other family members would have no problem against it? My mother-in-law is the only surviving child.

 

[seniorjudge]

What can we do before hand to prevent my mother-in-law from taking action against us saying we coerced Grandma into selling us the property for less than fair market value even though all other family members would have no problem against it?

I agree with your mother-in-law. Sounds fishy to me.

 

[lance0351]

I know it sounds fishy and I told my wife the same thing when we discussed it. She is 87 years old and still manages alright but she is alone from the time my wife leaves in the afternoon until she shows back up the next morning. The preferable option is to move in and pay the utilities still leaving her the house and only her medication to pay for but we are afraid within a week after she passes away, my mother-in-law after inheriting the house will kick us and the three children we have out. Are there means to insure we would have adequate time to find somewhere else to live? Believe it or not, we are thinking of her grandmother and not ourselves.

 

[calalily]

You may be able to have a doctor, her doctor, do a physical and mental examination that states she is of sound mind and body. As long as your grandmother is competent and wants to do this there is nothing legally to prevent it. The mother-in-law doesn't have a right to the living garndmother's estate. It is the grandmother's to with as she pleases.