My aunt is 88 years old. She is in great health for her age. Her husband passed about a year ago and she decided to go stay with her daughter for a while in another state. Unfortunately, her daughter died unexpectedly a few months ago. Her son-in-law called me immediately wanting to know if I had power of attorney over my aunt's affairs (I was her daughter's backup). I told him yes, and he immediately told me I needed to hand that over to him so he could take care of her. I told him that wasn't possible. A few days later, he called me back with his daughter on the phone (my aunt's granddaughter). She screamed at me and told me I was going to hand over "The Power" or else. She told me her grandmother had dementia and she was going to put her in a home nearby. I laughed and told her that wasn't happening. I went up there (10 hr. trip) and drove her back to live with me. She is doing great, and shows no signs of dementia. She has saved all of her retirement over the years and built up a nice nest egg. He was counting on getting it (to go along with his NASA retirement and parent's money). When her daughter passed, that wasn't going to happen anymore and he tried everything he could to keep her up there and get control of her finances.
So here's my question:
Back in 2004, my aunt bought a little house by the river. She was 71 back then. It was only the 2nd house she'd ever bought. Her son-in-law "helped" her through the buying process and even took her to his lawyer to draw up the paperwork. Turns out, he had his name put on the deed from day one. The day before I picked her up, he said "You know I own half of your house, and I can make you sell it". I have talked to a real estate attorney and he has told me it is a lost cause and we'll either have to pay him half, or have a court ordered split-sale. I have offered to pay him half of the value of the house, but of course he thinks it is worth WAY MORE that what the other houses have sold for in the past year. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this and what course of action you took. The house is located in Alabama. Thanks everyone.