Ok...looking for your opinion here....
My grandfather died on June 7th. His 85-year-old wife (2nd wife, not my grandmother), is living in his condo here in Toronto. She's a multi-millionaire and cheap as hell. She's also an American citizen who has never bothered to get citizenship here in Canada, despite living here 6 months of the year.
Anyways, my grandfather had 2 condos, both of which he bought himself while my grandmother was alive.... one in Toronto, which he lived in in the summer, and one in Florida for the winter. Their agreement while he was alive was that she would pay for everything for the half a year while they were in the U.S., and he would pay for everything for the 6 months in Canada. In his last 3 years however, he was not healthy enough to make the trip south, so they spent the last three years of his life in Canada full time (and she never offered to chip in on their costs, because "that was their agreement") That's left us a bit bitter, as we really don't feel that was the spirit of the agreement. The assumption was they'd spend equal time in each country...so we feel she took advantage of the situation and his ill-health. He has basically paid all the bills, paid for all the food, you name it for the past three years, while all she had to pay was minimal bills for an unused Florida condo during the same time. When she'd go shopping for anything here (and she's a shop-a-holic), it all went on his credit card while he was laid up at home. The condo fees here are about 4x annually what the Florida condo fees are.
So...when he died, the condo in Toronto was willed to my mother, and the one in Florida was willed to his wife....which only makes sense since she is American and always wanted to be in the States (at least, until recently), and she has no reason to stay here in Canada. Everyone was aware of this agreement long before he died. So... my mother is now paying the bills for the Toronto condo while his wife continues to live there...and still she won't chip in anything. She is also tying up the settlement of the will in other ways which are far too complicated to detail here. And because the will can't be settled yet, this is coming out of my mother's pocket for the time being.
According to the will, she had 90 days to vacate the Toronto condo when he died. She's already gotten an extension til the end of October on that because she said it is too hot this time of year for her in Florida and she is under too much stress.
The Toronto condo needs a lot of work. My mother wants to get in to fix it up before she sells it. Gramps wife won't let her in....and now tells my mother she "doesn't care" what the will says, she has decided she is not leaving.
Legally...I know my mother has the right to call the shots, and could technically evict her on September 7th (90 days after his death). The question is.... do you boot out an 85-year old woman & stick to the letter of the will & part on bad terms...or is there a better way to handle this awkward woman & cut her a bit of slack? She is older...we are not completely heartless, but she has to give SOMETHING in return we feel.
Opinions welcomed on this really unfortunate situation.
My grandfather died on June 7th. His 85-year-old wife (2nd wife, not my grandmother), is living in his condo here in Toronto. She's a multi-millionaire and cheap as hell. She's also an American citizen who has never bothered to get citizenship here in Canada, despite living here 6 months of the year.
Anyways, my grandfather had 2 condos, both of which he bought himself while my grandmother was alive.... one in Toronto, which he lived in in the summer, and one in Florida for the winter. Their agreement while he was alive was that she would pay for everything for the half a year while they were in the U.S., and he would pay for everything for the 6 months in Canada. In his last 3 years however, he was not healthy enough to make the trip south, so they spent the last three years of his life in Canada full time (and she never offered to chip in on their costs, because "that was their agreement") That's left us a bit bitter, as we really don't feel that was the spirit of the agreement. The assumption was they'd spend equal time in each country...so we feel she took advantage of the situation and his ill-health. He has basically paid all the bills, paid for all the food, you name it for the past three years, while all she had to pay was minimal bills for an unused Florida condo during the same time. When she'd go shopping for anything here (and she's a shop-a-holic), it all went on his credit card while he was laid up at home. The condo fees here are about 4x annually what the Florida condo fees are.
So...when he died, the condo in Toronto was willed to my mother, and the one in Florida was willed to his wife....which only makes sense since she is American and always wanted to be in the States (at least, until recently), and she has no reason to stay here in Canada. Everyone was aware of this agreement long before he died. So... my mother is now paying the bills for the Toronto condo while his wife continues to live there...and still she won't chip in anything. She is also tying up the settlement of the will in other ways which are far too complicated to detail here. And because the will can't be settled yet, this is coming out of my mother's pocket for the time being.
According to the will, she had 90 days to vacate the Toronto condo when he died. She's already gotten an extension til the end of October on that because she said it is too hot this time of year for her in Florida and she is under too much stress.
The Toronto condo needs a lot of work. My mother wants to get in to fix it up before she sells it. Gramps wife won't let her in....and now tells my mother she "doesn't care" what the will says, she has decided she is not leaving.
Legally...I know my mother has the right to call the shots, and could technically evict her on September 7th (90 days after his death). The question is.... do you boot out an 85-year old woman & stick to the letter of the will & part on bad terms...or is there a better way to handle this awkward woman & cut her a bit of slack? She is older...we are not completely heartless, but she has to give SOMETHING in return we feel.
Opinions welcomed on this really unfortunate situation.
