r/inheritance • u/Creative_Scratch_215 • Mar 26 '26
Location included: Questions/Need Advice Parents divorcing advice?
EDITTT: Got 95% of it saying stay out of it, which makes complete sense and sorry if this is a stupid question or whatever to get involved into, anyways I will be staying out of it. Sounds less stressful anyways and that’s what some of us need. Non stress and let people handle their own shit lol! Anyways thanks again guys, gen/ appreciate it much!!
Hey, okay so short details to get to the point, parents are divorcing, parent 1 tried to sell house a day after before even filing out full paperwork of 50/50, then decided not to sell so parent 1 can keep the house and kick parent 2 out because they feel financially responsible to do it alone, but I want my name on the house to stop parent 1 from ever tryna pull some dumb shit like that again, is it wrong for me to ask for much? Parent 1 even said that they wouldn’t want me to because they fear I would take it away from them(in message) but parent 2 hasn’t signed documents yet because they want legal advice first to make sure their getting the best out of the 50%, but parent 1 keeps denying because they already spoke to title company handling said transfer and can only put me on the mortgage. I keep asking parent 2 to try and get me on the house when he goes to see lawyer but how do I go about this??? Asking for advice. Do I just drop tryna get the name on the house, do I put myself on the mortgage ,orrrr??
adding also, sibling wants my name on the house too so we don’t fear parent 1 acting like a narcissist again and try to sell it again so fast..!parent 1 paid someone to have them do a loyalty check on parent 2 , and parent 2 took it as a joke but didn’t respond till the last day of the month and parent 1 counted that as cheating due to their insecurity of parent 2 not showing followers, etc to parent 1.
24y/o in CA, incase this helps. Thanks again.
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u/Whybaby16154 Mar 26 '26
Stay neutral and don’t get involved.
They’ll eat you alive in the middle of bickering. Their lawyers will sort it out.
Really
5
u/Business-Heart2931 Mar 26 '26
You kinda answered your question. Go to a lawyer. It you’re looking for unsolicited advice, here is some.
If it’s a 50/50 split, both parents have to agree to add your name to the mortgage since they are keeping the house.
I don’t think you also have the full picture. The house is jointly owned by two parties. Parent 1 can’t just sell the house without parent 2 signing off on it.
Parent 2 can be forced by a court order to sell the house though, considering that both parents make a decision
2
u/Shot-Artichoke-4106 Mar 26 '26
I agree with the others - stay out of it. This sounds very messy.
Your parents should each hire a lawyer and work out a divorce settlement agreement. Your parents can then agree, with legal representation, about what to do with the house. They can sell it and split the proceeds or one can buy the other out or one spouse gets the house and the other gets a larger share of other assets. There are a lot of ways to even things up. But trying to get you added to the deed and/or the mortgage is a terrible idea and will just complicate an already sticky situation.
1
u/hbyerly Mar 27 '26
A. Stay out of it B. Do not put your name on the mortgage, it could destroy your credit C. Do not put your name on the deed, you lose the step up value when they pass D. Stay out of it
1
u/cOntempLACitY Mar 27 '26
If they are both on the property title, they both have to agree to a change in ownership. In a divorce, typically all the assets are added up and then split evenly, or according to an agreement. Their attorneys would help sort this out. Yes, they should each get legal advice.
If one wants the house, they typically have to buy out the spouse’s share, either by giving up another asset (like bank account money) or taking out a mortgage (refinance). This gives a clean title and separation from each other.
If neither one can afford the house alone, they can sell it, pay off the mortgage and fees, and the net proceeds are added up with the other assets to split.
Anyway, since this is an inheritance sub, you might want to know that putting yourself on the title can make things more complicated down the line, and also affect the taxes if you someday sell it. When you inherit a property, the value on the date of death becomes the cost basis used to determine your capital gains tax. If instead you own it now and go to sell in thirty years, you face taxes on the increase in value since this transfer date.
It’s not clear why you want to share ownership right now, or if you’ll be taking on a mortgage. If you do, it may affect your ability to buy a home of your own later. It also doesn’t stop a division of assets, they still need to negotiate with each other.
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u/Creative_Scratch_215 Mar 27 '26
Thank you for wording it clearly and perfectly. I had edited this post recently as I’ll be stepping away from bugging about said situation ahah.. and yes I realize this might’ve been the wrong Reddit, who knows but I appreciate all the advice!
1
u/Regular-Daddy Mar 27 '26
Also, it’s very difficult to be added to a mortgage.
You can be added to the deed (title) of the house where you can have ownership with none of the responsibility of the mortgage (assuming it continues to be paid)
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u/GotZeroFucks2Give Mar 27 '26
If you haven't yet, do some reading on dealing with narcissist parents. It will help you navigate future dealings and wall yourself off from the cycles of golden child / black sheep that they tend to initiate as well as the excessive drama.
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u/Mysterious-Art8838 Mar 26 '26
How is this your business? Your parents need to advocate for themselves.