Does my father’s wife have any rights to his property even though I am the only one on his Will?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Does my father’s wife have any rights to his property even though I am the only one on his Will?
The Will has been signed by two witnesses. My father was trying to divorce his wife not my mother before he ended up in the hospital with Esophageal Cancer. She is refusing to sign any divorce papers. They have a house both in their name. There is also other assets. My dad wrote that I get everything, including the house. Will this be the case, or does my dad’s wife have any legal say? I am not sure if this matters either, but she is an American citizen only through marriage. She originally came here from China.
Asked on September 30, 2019 under Estate Planning, California
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
Community property is property acquired during marriage. Community property is also income earned during marriage and debt incurred during marriage. Each spouse has a one half interest in the community property. A spouse cannot will away community property.
Since the house is in both spouses' names, the intent appears to be that it is community property. If the house was purchased during marriage. Therefore, your father's wife has a one half interest in the house.
Separate property is property acquired, income earned, and debt incurred before marriage or after marriage ends. A spouse has no claim to the other spouse's separate property. A spouse can will away the separate property. Therefore, your father's wife has no claim to his separate property that you inherit through his Will.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.