Legal Question in Family Law in New York

Re: legal rights between adult children and live in girlfriend

Your father's girlfriend cannot acquire any interest or rights to your father's property or real estate, other than the rights or interest, your father specifically gives to her, by Deed, Mortgage, Bequest or Gift; and it must be by a written document, duly acknowledged, notarized and in a form that is appropriate for recording.

A "girlfriend" or "boyfriend" does not aquire property rights, merely by virtue of "living with" a person. However, if a "girlfriend" person can prove that they contributed to the aquisition of the asset or property, they may have a cause of action to recover or recoup their investment. The standard of proof is very high; and the live in girlfriend's status is in NO WAY equivalent to that of a wife, or child, viz estate property.

Good luck,

Phroska L. McAlister,ESQ