Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Connecticut

Rights to House for Life?
Our father has a valuable house and has left rights to live in it for life to his current wife. He said when he dies she can still live in it. When it is sold, the proceeds are supposed to be split six ways among the children equally. But someone said to me that she, the wife, can just sell the house to someone for $60 and we each would only get $10, for example. That there is absolutely no guarantee that what he wants to happen will happen. Is she allowed to sell it for a minimal sum to a relative of hers so she can keep the house and we don't get anything? This is what I was told could happen. This person said that none of the kids will necessarily get anything. If that is what my father wanted, that is one thing. But he says that all children will get an equal portion of value of house.

Asked on 4/27/07, 4:53 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Max Rosenberg Rosenberg,Whewell, & Hite, LLC

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Re: Rights to House for Life?

This is not the case. What your stepmother has is a life estate in the house. She can not sell more than what she has. Therefore were she to sell the property, she would be selling a life estate which would devolve back to you and your siblings upon her demise (not upon the subsequent owners)The person she transfers to is still only recieving a life estate measured by your father's current wife's life.

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Answered on 4/27/07, 5:22 pm

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