Location: Texas
Hello! I hope I selected the right flair for this situation. Me and my siblings are in a unique situation and are struggling to figure out the next best step. We’d appreciate any advice or options to consider.
The tldr is we were lied to about a house and land inheritance about 12 years ago and are now being asked to sign our rights away.
Our mother owned a house and land that is connected to a larger plot of land owned by various family members, but mostly our grandfather. Not sure if it matters, but this house had been hers pretty much our entire lives and we all grew up there.
In 2014 she died unexpectedly and our grandfather took the lead in the funeral and insurance settlement because we were all minors or newly adults at the time. He originally told us that he would buy the house and land from us to keep it in the family and we agreed.
When we all got together to finalize everything he told us that he checked the deed and he found that he’s the only one on it. Supposedly, our mother had gifted the house to him so her husband wouldn’t have any claim to it. She had intended to get ownership of the house back after the divorce, but hadn’t gotten around to it before she died. This is absolutely something she would do and we had no reason to think our grandfather was lying. He told us that because he already owned the house, he would not be buying it from us, and that was that.
Years passed, he remodeled the house, rented it out, and paid taxes on it. All until earlier this year when he passed away.
His wife has now reached out saying that she “just now learned” the house is in both our mother and grandfathers name. Since we’ve had nothing to do with the house this entire time, she expects us to just sign our rights over to her.
We’re lost on where to go from here. My sister talked to some lawyers but was quoted $1500 up front to review everything and give us advice by the one she liked the most. If this is how much they cost up front we can’t afford one, while my grandfathers wife has millions. And the document sent to us from her lawyer says she’s taking us to court if we don’t sign in 30 days.
We don’t even know if we still have rights because how much time has passed. we don’t want to take out credit cards and go into debt just to get advice. It also feels really messed up that we were lied to and now are being told we’re owed nothing because we haven’t been involved.
We’d really appreciate any advice or direction, please.