Teatime again (Ho-Hum) Should kindness and sacrifice be rewarded?

T

teatime

New Member
Another friend of mine died. He was very ill, suffered from too many surgeries and disease. A lady he was not married to moved in and took very good care of him for over five years. Now that he has died the house they lived in is not hers so she is having to deal with staying there or moving out and his family is taking things from the house. Does she deserve anything?
 

Big Horn said:
If he had wished her to have anything, he would have left it to her. An uncommitted relationship is just that.
Click to expand...

This is most probably true, depends a lot on the state in which they were living and whether common law marriage is recognized there, and also whether or not she had spent any of her own money in upkeep, maintenance, etc. All states are different in this area of the law, so what might be true in one state is not necessarily true in another and there is no universal answer to this question. The lady should consult an attorney in the state in which they were living to get an answer to this question as it can get very complicated.

Most states (mine does) have a thing where a person, especially a senior citizen, can get a very reduced rate to see a lawyer to get a reading on a question like this. She should call her local Bar Association and ask them if her state does. OR perhaps a local senior citizens' law office can help her. Nevertheless, I believe it would be worth her while to invest the $$ to see an attorney and find out what rights, if any, she has in this situation.
 
It would be a shame if he lied to her by saying he did leave things to her. Or, if he really intended to but never got around to it, or thought he did.

True, there's a lot of unanswered questions.
 
If I were one of his children, I would be grateful for what she did for my father and for what she saved us from having to do. I suppose that's not the norm when you have dollar signs where your heart should be, but it seems it would behoove them to treat her generously.

Agree with Butterfly. She needs to see if she has any rights.
 
Thank you for you responses, Being a caregiver is not ekasy

Smiling Jane said:
If I were one of his children, I would be grateful for what she did for my father and for what she saved us from having to do. I suppose that's not the norm when you have dollar signs where your heart should be, but it seems it would behoove them to treat her generously.

Agree with Butterfly. She needs to see if she has any rights.
Click to expand...

She loved and cared for him. I guess I am stupid because I did the same thing for one of my friends mother. She asked me when she was on her death bed. She said I don't have anyone. Her son quit his job and we moved into her house to take care of her and help pay her bills. When it was over I left with nothing. I don't regret helping to care for her. But I should have gone to attorney.
It seems that money should always be the first thoughts, sorry I had to learn this in old age.
 
Even if he had left her something in his will it doesn't mean she'll get anything. Years ago a friend's wife was a caretaker to a woman for many years. We she died they found out she had left her a huge sum of money, so much money that he quit his job and took early retirement so they could travel and enjoy life.

But.....her children contested the will and the court decided that the caretaker had undo influence on the woman so they didn't get a penny.
 
If he had wanted her to have anything he would have taken care of it. I took care of a very dear friend and when he died he left me part of his stock account. I did not expect it and was surprised. I loved him very much and did everything I could to make things easier for him before he died.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top