Multi-person inherited house

[shrimpy]

Hello everyone,

I have a situation that mustn't be too uncommon but I am yet to find any examples.

My father recently died and left the house (in his name) 50% to his wife (my step-mother), 25% to my brother and 25% to me. The other two owners do not wish to sell with the step-mother living in it rent and mortgage free. I would like to sell as soon as possible.

If anyone could offer advice on the following situations it would be very much appreciated. It feels that the other two have all the power and I must just go on along with their decision to not sell.

• Force the sale of the entire house to a 3^rd party
• Force the sale of my 25% to a 3^rd party (this I would assume if legally possible would not be a financially good idea for all three of us but this is something I would be willing to accept)
• Force the sale of my 25% to either/both the step-mother or my brother
• Force the step-mother to pay a 25 % pro-rata rent to me.

Again any advice or examples of simiar situations would be very much appreciated.

[atticus]

It is common for wills in such situations to provide that the bequest is subject to the surviving spouse having the right to live in the property for as long as he/she wishes. Is there such a provision here?