Martinez, CA asked in Estate Planning for California

Q: Can a member of a family trust demand payback for work her companion did on the house before our mother died?

The work done on my mother's house was: the roof, French drainage all around the house and all are part of the foundation. The sister that wants 60% (is the executor of the trust), while the other 4 other sisters split 40% of the money after the house is sold. The executor is claiming that if she had hired someone to do these jobs 10 years ago the cost would have been close to $200,000. Although she had her companion do all the jobs on his own, and in actuality I do not believe she physically paid him any money for the jobs. The executor is also claiming she paid for some sidewalk work that the city did and that cost $4000 (this was probably done 20 plus years ago). She also hired a painting company to paint the outside of the house which she wants paid back to her as well. My mom passed away 13 years ago and the house has been sitting empty this whole time. She has been paying the property tax as well for the last 30 years which I believe she deserves compensation for ($75,000).

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Nina Whitehurst
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Answered
  • Estate Planning Lawyer
  • Crossville, TN
  • Licensed in California

A: What would you do if the roles were reversed?

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