Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts
Just before graduating college I was promised the family home by my father resulting in my taking a local job rather than continue on to grad school or take a job in another state more in line with my schooling. After I moved back across country to the family home, my father changed his mind without informing me until I had incurred additional educational debt at a non-accredited training center which could not be included in my financial aid package and therefore had to be paid out of pocket. I have paid the debt off but in doing so was not able to save money as most of my salary went towards the payments. Now that I am in a position to start to save money for a down payment on a home, I received a call from my father's realtor informing me that he had put the house on the market. My question is, based on his earlier promise altering my career plans do I have any basis for claim to the house that was promised to me. This was a verbal promise that he repeated a number of times. Thanks for any advice.
1 Answer from Attorneys
a verbal promise alone is of little value. However, if you changed your position in reliance on the promise, and the father knew or should have known about this, you may have an action.