Why won't my in-laws, who are owners of our house, release it so we can sell it to buy a better house?

Question

They took possession of OUR fully paid off home while my husband was mentally impaired for a period of time and we were separated. We are now remarried and NEED a three bedroom home with two teens of different genders. We can afford the $1100 mortgage on our own, but being able to sell this house would ease out burden enormously. *we are living in this house and we get it in the will*. WHY won't they let us sell it? We ARE moving, as we have been approved for the loan, so do we just leave them with this empty house?
I am angry, but I also think they seem to think we have a wonderful life with four people in a 700 SF home with me us sleeping on the sofa so the kids can have bedrooms.
How clean do we leave the house we are leaving/they own? Do we clean carpets, etc or just move and leave it as if we were renters? We are going to need all the extra cash for the mortgage payment.

Answer 1

So I am a little confused by your question. When you say that your in-laws took possession of YOUR fully paid house when your husband was mentally impaired, did they GET ownership or had they given it to him in the first place?

If you two bought and paid for it and then they took possession when he was ill, get an attorney and get possession put back into your husband's name and then he can sell it.

If it was their house intially and they gave it to him and re-possessed it when he was ill, it will be difficult to do that.

Just because you will get this house in the will doesn't mean that it is yours right now. I can understand why they wouldn't let you sell it right now, now it is a source of power for them and they can affect what you and your husband do because they have a financial advantage on you. It is about power and control, not about logic. Is the house they own and you live in very close to them? Do they want to control the property to control the potential neighbors?

What I would do for leaving depends on how long you've been there. I think leaving it like renter's in broom clean condition is enough. If they want to clean it to rent it out or to sell it, then let them.

good luck!

Answer 2

Only your in-laws can tell you why they are doing what they are doing. Don't worry about it. Just do what you need to do for yourselves, and move on with your lives. There is certainly a good reason they have chosen this action, but you may never know it. Since you are sure they are going to leave the house to you when they die, perhaps they are going to do good things with it until then.

Definitely clean the house as you would like to find it when you walk in your new house. You own them that much respect, in the least. Always choose your actions by what will make you proud of yourself when you look back on any event.

Answer 3

Didn't anyone tell you NEVER to business with FAMILY? Your key word here is "the will", legally I assume the house STILL belongs to the in laws. It is not yours it is theirs. Legally they can do whatever they want with the house. As for leaving it clean in a manner that is pleasing it is going to save you ENDLESS heartache and listening to them in the future if you leave it in a clean manner--do the carpets- clean it up, its really NOT ABOUT THE CASH its about having to l isten to them in the future and for that matter the rest of the family too.