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fredmund2 Asked May 2018

Dad and Charlotte live in a house that is in an irrevocable trust for his 4 children. Charlotte wants to sell the house. Any advice?

My dad and Charlotte have been together for about 35 years.  They have never married. They live together and she has been there for him every step of the way as his health issues mounted. Heart issues, a serious stroke, and late onset Parkinsons to name a few.


He owns a house in Pennsylvania in 12 acres worth around 150k. It's been in the family since 1993. 7 years ago he put it in an irrevocable trust for his 4 children. My sister Christine is the POA. 6 months ago Charlotte announced in a text that "it's time to sell the house because her and my dad have no use for it anymore." We love Charlotte and she's been an angel for our dad taking care of his every need. That being said she is a bully and it's her way or the highway. My dad receives about 6k a month between SS and his pension check. We never seriously looked into where that money went every month because she took care of him and also it was probably none of our business. The 4 of us were busy with our families and our own "stuff."


I mentioned to Charlotte that selling the house is not her decision it's the decision of the trust as far a I know. After some back and forth she says she is not paying the expenses on the house any more. Notice she says she not we her and my dad. Myself and my siblings would rather not sell. We still enjoy it with our kids many times a year. According to what the trust says my dad is responsible for expenses and upkeep until he passes or the house is sold. We checked with the lawyer and that is the case. Our dad did this for us out of the goodness of his heart. In fact it's one of the few things he has done for us.


It seems to us that she is trying to control and or sabotage the one thing he's given to us. Does she have any say at all as to when this house gets sold or whether or not my dad continues to pay expense and upkeep? I'm furious and let her know in no uncertain terms. My brother could care less and my sisters are also upset. Where do we go with this? Charlotte says she spoke to our dad and he agrees on selling g it and not paying the expenses any more. The expenses amount to about $500 a month. A: we don't know if she actually spoke to him. B: we don't know if he's capable of understanding whats going on. C: we don't know if she is threatening him to agree with her. When I mentioned to her that she always texts or says I not we she says its because he's not capable of fully understanding what's going on. In the next sentence she says she ran it by him and he agrees with her. Can't have it both ways either he DOES understand and agrees with her or he DOESN'T and she's full of crap saying he does. Please advise. thank you.

Ahmijoy May 2018
I really don’t think the Trust is the issue here, though I may be wrong. Our OP and his family have been content to let Dad’s long-time partner handle things for decades while they went about their lives. OP seems to have no clue as to his father’s physical or mental health. OP seems to have the idea that partner is brainwashing Dad into selling property that perhaps Dad and partner are not legally able to sell. But OP has no idea what goes on between Dad and partner, this is purely “guessology” on OP’s part. Although OP has claimed to “love” partner, OP hasn’t done much in their posts other than make unfounded accusations. We’ve all made suggestions and asked questions. OP has not agreed to take any of our suggestions to heart, including mine of calling a family meeting with the lawyer. I firmly believe that until this happens with all players present including Dad’s partner and the family attorney, no viable solution will ever be reached.

rovana May 2018
Is it possible for an irrevocable trust to stipulate that the trustee can sell the house, but the proceeds must be retained in the trust? That way the beneficiaries would eventually receive the money, but meantime, since the house is gone, there are no upkeep, insurance, etc. issues.
It seems that the children were happy enough that Charlotte was taking care of their dad - for 30 years. To me, that means that she has some real "sweat equity" in this situation and it is unreasonable and mean for the kids to take the attitude that she should have no "power" or say in the situation.

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Rainmom May 2018
I’m a bit confused. If the house is in an irrevocable trust for you and your siblings, how can it be sold? That’s kinda the deal with irrevocably trust - the irrevocabllity...

AlfredR May 2018
If the house is in a Qualified Personal Residence Trust, selling it before the retained income period can have some nasty income tax consequences.

paperlady May 2018
The key word here is irrevocable. The Trustee would be the only one who could sell the house and the proceeds remain with the Trust.

JoAnn29 May 2018
If possible, I would think the trust would have to be dissolved before the house could be sold.

JoAnn29 May 2018
Garden Artist, really have no idea how trusts work per see. My nephew has an irrevokable special needs trust that was set up to protect insurance money he received after his Moms death. This had to be set up before I applied for SSD for him. SS and Medicaid cannot include it as income but need to be aware of it. Nephew cannot touch it. I am Trustee and have rules to follow to how its spent. Upon his death, my brother is beneficiary. He raised him when my sister died.

So to me, irrevokable means the trust cannot be revoked. It was set up that way for a reason. Maybe at the time he and GF hadn't been together that long and he wanted to protect that part of his estate, just in case. Well now, don't think he can go back on the deal. I would first find out if Dad keeping up the place is now causing money problems. If so, then maybe splitting cost between those benefiting from the trust is a good idea.

Countrymouse May 2018
It seems to me that the real thorn on the rose is the ongoing maintenance costs rather than the capital - father and partner are burdened with it and getting nothing from it.

So, if that is also part of the trust's terms and the trust can't be varied, what would happen if father simply didn't have the money to pay?

GardenArtist May 2018
I swear I posted on this very similar thread on the same topics just a few days ago. When I searched, that thread had been closed/removed...whatever - it's no longer there.

Fredmund, is this the second time you've posted on this same topic, same issue? Or am I really losing my mind?

JoAnn, you are right that an irrevocable trust can't be changed. I don't know about Medicaid applications, but it can be irrevocable for other reasons as well.
AgingCareCM May 2018
You're correct. A very similar question was posted yesterday, and all of the answers were only to ask for further clarification. Since a new question was created we made the original question inactive. Sorry for the confusion!
Countrymouse May 2018
Do I gather that the bottom line is that your father and his long term partner are paying $500 a month to maintain a house for which they have no use that you and your siblings and your families enjoy spending occasional vacations at?

It may be that the trust commits your father to this spending. I glean from your rather hurt-sounding comment that it is one of the few things he has ever done for you that you are indeed feeling upset and angry about this disagreement, rather than its being a serious summary of his merits as a father?

Do you and any siblings you can persuade to take an interest in the matter really feel that you should hold your father to this obligation? What about taking over the house altogether and splitting the upkeep among you, instead?

blannie May 2018
I read it as a "vacation" house, separate from where they live, but maybe I read that wrong. I don't see how the children could enjoy it "many times a year" but not know about their dad's physical/mental condition. Clarification would help.

jeannegibbs May 2018
Could you clear up a couple of things? Are Dad and Charlotte living in the house in question, or do they live elsewhere?

Why should you split expenses until it sells? Don't the terms call for your dad to pay them until it is sold?

JoAnn29 May 2018
Am I wrong here...a irrevokable trust means that it can't be touch prior to death. The one reason its irrevokable is so Medicaid can't include it when determining if a person gets help. I think the question is does he have the right to sell it. GF really has no rights since they never married. The house is not hers to sell and she can't override ur sister, the POA. I agree, that maybe the children who want to keep it could split the costs. You all need to sit down with the lawyer who drew up the trust and allow him to explain how it works. Is there a trustee to the trust. A realtor should not get involved in something like this either.

blannie May 2018
It sounds like you're not close to your father since you don't really know what his cognitive state is. In my opinion, your primary interest should be that your father gets the care he needs by using the money he has. That's his money, not yours. He's chosen to live with Charlotte for 35 years, so that's his "wife" for all intents and purposes.

If it was me, I'd talk to my siblings and those of you who want to keep the place, I'd split the yearly costs with them and assume them going forward. Your dad is giving you a gift of the property. I wouldn't start a war over the yearly upkeep costs.

I'd also try to spend some time with my dad in his final years. The time I spent with my mom and dad was a blessing to me. I hope you don't lose that opportunity. Focus on your dad and not on the property.

fredmund2 May 2018
My siblings and I could share the expenses but we believe he did not intend for this to be a burden on us which it is becoming this is her power trip. POA has had almost nothing to do with financial decisions. If we sell the 150k stays in trust for us. We spoke to a lawyer about that. WE feel she is forcing this on our dad possibly with threats of leaving. We are sure he wants us to continue enjoying the housed with his income (tax free) the expenses are minimal. Actually the biggest issue is the gall Charlotte has for thinking she controls the whole situation. This is not her call. Communication with our dad has always been limited. Pretty much has always gone through Charlotte. Remember the control thing well she has it down pat. They are perfectly fine right now there are NO financial burdens on them. They will be fine in the future also. We've recently agreed to sell under her pressure we don't want to. I've asked her if she would split the expenses until the sale she refused or is it they refused. Who knows. Perhaps the biggest point to be made here instead of a text saying they are done it's time to sell ( not her call ) maybe a sit down with the four of us like adults lay everything out on the table ask what we think and what our opinions might be. Imagine??!! Again finances are not their issue this is about power and control. It's sad.

Ahmijoy May 2018
I would say that if Christine was made POA when Dad was of sound mind, it is her decision whether or not to sell that property in PA. However, I can understand how Charlotte feels as well, as I am sole caregiver and financial “manager” for my husband. Is Charlotte on Dad’s bank accounts? Has she been responsible for paying all the bills in the past? As I read your posts and try to gain understanding of your situation, Charlotte has been pretty much solely responsible for Dad for 3 decades while you and sibs were on about your own business. Now, Dad’s mental and physical health is deteriorating even further. Charlotte has probably “had it”, is burned out and is looking towards the future. You accuse her of being a “bully”, but when you’re sole caregiver for someone for that long, it’s a given you will get a little cranky.  She may resent your accusations and insinuations because you all were content to let her handle things for so long and now...well, not so much. 

Not to be judgmental, but it doesn’t sound like you’ve been very involved with Dad and Charlotte to the extent that you have a good knowledge of where his money has gone and for what,  not to mention what caring for him for all those years must have been like for Charlotte. You insinuate that you don’t know where his money has gone and maybe Charlotte has done something untoward with it. You’ll need proof.  Does your sister with the POA know what his expenses are, if he has any savings, etc.? When I was POA for my mom, I had to account for every penny, before and after her death, receipts and all. Or, is your sister content to let Charlotte handle all this and be POA in name only. 

Instead of guesses, suspicions, accusations and hurt feelings that could blow up into full-scale war if left to fester, call a family meeting at the attorney’s office. Charlotte needs to be there. And, so does your father if he’s able. And of course Sister with the POA. You also don’t seem very cognizant of Dad’s mental state. You take Charlotte’s word for things but then doubt that word. You need to have a family meeting with the attorney as a moderator and referee if needed.

jeannegibbs May 2018
When was the most recent time you were with your father face-to-face? You seem to know little about his condition, his decision-making ability, or his preferences. Why is all your contact going through Charlotte?

If the $500 a month is the only issue about the house, would each of you kids be willing to pay $125/month to keep it in the family? Your dad has no further use for it; maybe those who do should pick up the costs.

But it may well be the $150,000 they want. Chronic health problems at the end of life can be EXTREMELY expensive! He sure wouldn't be the first parent who intended to leave something for his children and who was not in fact able to do that, because of healthcare expenses. Could you and your sibs buy this property?

How much involvement has POA Christine had in managing financial affairs?

Have you discussed with the lawyer what your options are at this point?

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