Q: Can my cousin who lives in my grandmas house (for 3 months) keep the house after my grandmother dies with no will?
My grandmother passed away with no will (my grandfather passed away 1 year before her). My cousin moved in to my grandmothers house 3 months before my grandmother died. Since there is no will, the deed wasn't changed, and a joint tendency was never completed does she have any rights to the house or any right to still be living in the house?
A:
California statutes (the laws of intestacy) will provide for who the heirs are to your grandmother's estate. The heirs will be determined in a probate proceeding.
Your cousin will not be able to claim ownership of the house just because he lives there. A court has to award ownership in probate.
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