(50F) inherited my childhood home jointly with my brother after our father deeded it to us years before he passed away. My father always said he expected us to keep it because neither of us would agree to sell.
The property isn't in a desirable area and isn't worth a fortune, but it has a lot of sentimental value to me. After our father died and years later our grandfather who lived here also passed, my brother wanted to sell it immediately. I asked if we could keep it, and I offered to pay for all of the renovations myself with the understanding that improving the property would increase its value. Over the years, I've done extensive remodeling, mostly through my own labor and paying for materials. At this point, the only major projects left are finishing part of the attic, refinishing some floors, and painting the exterior.
My brother passed away two years ago. His ownership interest went to his two children. They inherited substantial assets from him, but they haven't contributed anything toward the house and don't seem interested in helping maintain it. I continue to pay for repairs and deal with ongoing homeowner issues, and the property has become a financial and emotional burden.
I'm worried about several things:
I'm in the United States, Location: (North Carolina).
I'm mainly trying to understand my legal options before speaking with an attorney. I know state law matters, but I'd appreciate any general guidance on what type of attorney I should consult and what issues I should be asking about.