Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Illinois

can someone force mom to sell her home

my mom and her sister owned as owners in common their home together a home which has been in the family since the 1800's. When her sister died after being nagged by her nephew to put him on the title she went downtown and signed papers he became joint owner. One year later her nephew died of a heart attack and new his sister and brother are insisting that my mother give them ''their share''. Can they force her to sell the home? Where would she live? She is seventy-four years old and on social security. She was told to get a loan. She has no money to pay one. I hope there is some hope.

Sincerely

--name removed--Oparka


Asked on 9/27/05, 5:25 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

John Pembroke John J. Pembroke & Associates LLC

Re: can someone force mom to sell her home

Yes, the siblings of the nephew can force your mother to sell the home to "give" them their share, provided, however, that the home's title is NOT in an Illinois land trust. The siblings can bring what is called a suit for partition to ask the court to force a sale. In the alternative, your mother could offer to pay them rent; or take a mortgage to buy out their half.

Our comments are based on treating your question as a hypothetical. Accordingly, our comments could be substantially and materially different were we advised of all of the relevant facts and circumstances. Our comments are by necessity general in nature, and should not be relied upon in taking or forgoing action in your circumstances without retaining an attorney. In order to fully explore your legal matter, you should meet with us or another attorney and bring to any such meeting all relevant documents and correspondence, and any other relevant facts.

We are not hired to be your attorney, and no attorney-client relationship exists between us, unless and until you enter into a written retainer agreement with us, tender the agreed amount for a retainer and it is accepted by us. We reserve the right to decline representation should circumstances change.

As you are aware, in Illinois there are various deadlines for filing a complaint, filing an answer to a complaint, or taking other action in order to preserve your legal rights, and avoid a complete loss of those rights. You should retain counsel immediately in order to be fully advised of your rights, and to be fully informed of the applicable time period within which those rights must be asserted. If you were to delay in doing so, it might result in your potential cause of action being forever barred.

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Answered on 9/28/05, 10:00 am


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