Users' questions

Can a house be left to two siblings?

Can a house be left to two siblings?

If you are joint tenants, all siblings have equal rights to the entire house and if any sibling dies, their share passes to the other joint tenants. This means that only the final surviving brother or sister can make a provision in their will to leave the property to someone.

How are siblings supposed to share the cost of inherited property?

The cost is typically shared by the siblings. “A formal agreement may be necessary as the next generation inherits the property, because instead of a couple of siblings, you start to have multiple cousins and their families sharing the property,” said Ringham.

How long has one of my brothers lived in the House?

One of my brothers has lived in the property for around 25 years. We all had a verbal agreement with my mother that he could live there as long as he needed to. We understand that one of my other brothers is now seeking to sell the house. Can he sell his share or borrow against it, and can he force the sale of the property?

What happens when a brother or sister inherits a house?

In a perfect world, brothers and sisters would be best friends, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Even if it did, money can strain the best of friendships. If you and your sibling inherit a home, you have a number of options, but most depend on reaching an agreement between you regarding what to do with the property.

Do you have the authority to divide property between siblings?

If the instructions are to divide all property equally between siblings, you have the authority to use your best judgment as to how to proceed.

Can a property be inherited jointly by siblings?

While inheritances are generally divided so that each beneficiary gets property they own outright, some pieces of property can be transferred so that siblings own the assets jointly. For example, a family home might be inherited jointly by siblings.

In a perfect world, brothers and sisters would be best friends, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Even if it did, money can strain the best of friendships. If you and your sibling inherit a home, you have a number of options, but most depend on reaching an agreement between you regarding what to do with the property.

Can a house be left to four siblings?

A common example is a house left to four siblings. While each may individually own 25 percent of the house, they are all entitled to use the entirety of the property for their own benefit. If one sibling wants to sell their share of the tenancy in common, things can get very complicated.

One of my brothers has lived in the property for around 25 years. We all had a verbal agreement with my mother that he could live there as long as he needed to. We understand that one of my other brothers is now seeking to sell the house. Can he sell his share or borrow against it, and can he force the sale of the property?