Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New York

tenants in common

2 siblings inherit a house. both lived there for a time, then sistera moved out. a few years later, sisterb informed sistera that she had not been paying the bills and there was to be a forclosure and tax lien sale. sisterb asks sistera to pay the bills and that she will reinburse her 50%. sistera feels sisterb should pay 100% as she has had sole possession. sisterb had also collected rent from a boarder and did not use that money for bills. what is sistera's responsibility? is she responsible to pay half of the bills?


Asked on 9/20/00, 3:45 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Walter LeVine Walter D. LeVine, Esq.

Re: tenants in common

As a co-owner, you have equal responsibility for the payment of the outstanding bills. To protect your interest, you may have to pay all open bills and then seek reimbursement from your sister (possibly by starting a suit against her for contribution. As a co-owner you were also entitled to receive 1/2 of the rent from the boarder, so you also have a claim for these funds from your sister. Sorry to say, it sounds like you have a problem and will probably need a good, local real estate attorney to protect your rights to the house and to get reimbursed by your sister.

Walter

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Answered on 10/20/00, 1:31 pm


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