UPDATE: Not much to report because I think I've been pretty much locked out of discussions but the 3 acres went to 5. Only found out because we were out there last week and saw survey flags. I thought it looked like more than 3 acres & Mom said "Yes, legally we have to sell them 5". She couldn't explain why exactly - just said the surveyor said so because of subdivision developers(?). Sister supposedly paid for the survey, but not the land yet. Again, we went over why it's a bad idea and Mom said "Well, you should talk to them about it, but I could NEVER take it back now."

They were out there recently and carried some cases of water in the house for them & we heard all about it. I can rest easy now that I know how much help they are going to be .... *sarcasm*

So, there you have it. Dad would not talk about it at all & Mom was defensive and evasive. She actually acted like our objections were news to her. I'd be concerned about dementia but it only seems to be this one topic.

This crap is bullcrap

I'd be very surprised if whatever county this is in didn't have an exception in their subdivision regulations for conveyances to family members (county subdivision is where "5 acres" thing comes in). Seems like a lot of bad info flowing on this whole deal. Lawyers needed to be involved months ago.

Your sis maybe in for a big surprise and not to her liking. She gets all settled in and parents start having the inevitable problems she may end up caregiver by default. If BIL is useless and your a fair amount away she may have no choice but to fill in the gap.

Unintended consequences

This is a ****ing disaster.

I would still try to get lawyers involved, if for nothing else than to update their will to reflect these new changes. I can see it now. your parents sell your sister part of it now. They pass and current will is still in place, you and sis will split the piece of land that they still own 50/50, because there is nothing spelled out saying your sister already received her share prior to them passing.

histag10 said:

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I would still try to get lawyers involved, if for nothing else than to update their will to reflect these new changes. I can see it now. your parents sell your sister part of it now. They pass and current will is still in place, you and sis will split the piece of land that they still own 50/50, because there is nothing spelled out saying your sister already received her share prior to them passing.

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Completely up to his parents. To even make this suggestion is to make a demand of your parents on what they should be doing today with their own money. I think it's a losing battle at this point. It sucks.

I can't do anything at this point but sit back & see how it progresses. They are of sound mind - I know it doesn't sound like it - and it's their business. It's disappointing because I always thought we would be treated equally but it might not happen.

I don't know how sis is paying for the new house, and I really don't even want to get into a conversation about it. Once things are settled & it's built, I will suggest a revision on the current will to figure out the rest of the property.

Whatever the outcome, if I get any of it, I'm selling at current rate to them (or I suspect some of BIL's relatives) or putting storage buildings/trailers on it. : )

Still interested in updates as this unfolds?

Of course we want updates. We been here this long so what the heh!

I would pay good money to watch a video of you telling them storage units were coming in. After all, highest and best use, yadayada

I have been following since the beginning and all all I can say is that OP is a much calmer man and peacemaker than I. I cant stand people weaseling their way into things without having worked/earned a bit for it.

I get furious just reading this.

Will do. Didn't want y'all to think I'm just a ranter. Y'all have helped me tremendously, and, yes, it does help to type it out here.

At this point, I'm not worried about it. I don't think that they would exclude me totally but I think that could change if I tried to go the lawyer route, etc. Even if Sis pushed for that (which, I don't think she would - they got what they want), I still think there is a bit of fairness left in them. When we had our discussion AGAIN this past weekend, she repeated that I still get half (less the obvious) - even though I told her AGAIN at the beginning that it was her & Dad I was trying to protect - not my interests. It's not a land/money grab on my part & never has been.

It's funny, and I think I forgot to mention this, but there was a property "dispute" between my Dad & his sister on land (35 acres) left to both of them. She tried to say that one of her kids should be able to build on "her half" leaving the unusable marshy part with the gas well in the middle to my dad's half (of course she would keep her share of the minerals). My Dad shot that down & I've wondered why he didn't see this as a similar situation. Maybe because there is a lot more land and he feels like we'd both have a nice piece. Who knows. And my Mom is always complaining about his sister getting more - all of grandma's jewelry, her car when she went into assisted living, etc. They can sure see it when it applies to them, but not me.

How bout that baseball game tonight?!? BTHOtu

You're handling this much better than I would, so kudos. I think I would have (jokingly) suggested that your parents go ahead and split the land up and they can pay you rent to stay in the house.

schwack schwack - well,....this reads like Sis & BIL got their way. I couldn't recommend attorney's to step in to this situation, months ago, or today, unless you want to stick your hand in a hornet's nest and make the situation worse. I believe you know that.

I still don't have a super clear picture of the property in my mind, so work with me. Once you cross the tracks, if the road accessing the property falls into jeopardy (where Sis & BIL control it) and your parents didn't allow for joint easement/access, that could be an issue for the parcel you'll inherit later. (I am assuming the property will not be sold to pay for parents health/living expenses) If you can find out what parcel you'll inherit with certainty (and full well know that "certainty" can change) that would be good knowledge for you.

Second, investigate who owns the property surrounding, touching, next-to, etc. the parcel you would inherit. Out of those surrounding property(ies), seek which one has access to a public road. Hopefully that type of parcel exists. I think it would be good strategy to secretly purchase the property that would butt-up next to your inherited parcel. You would guarantee yourself access to your inheritance without having to negotiate easement/access from Sis & BIL. You already know that Sis & BIL have claimed/purchased 5 acres that diminishes the value to some external potential buyer should the property need to be sold to pay for your folks health/living expenses. Further, Sis & BIL just might think their strategic positioning would be demoralizing to you resulting in a "surrender sale" of your inherited parcel to Sis & BIL just to get away from them. However, if you purchase land that would give you access to the inherited parcel, without having to deal with Sis & BIL, you would gain the upper hand and not be a demoralized/captive seller to them.

Your risk, ...
1.) ... parents change their mind and decide they want to give you a different parcel or divide it differently and your purchased land no longer is adjoining the initially communicated inheritance parcel.
2.) ... parents farm has to be sold to pay for your parents health/living expenses.
...........A.) you step-in and buy the parents farm, sans Sis & BIL's 5 acres, and you have the adjoining land for access
...........B.) or, you have to sell your purchased land that provided access to the inherited parcel which is no longer available to you.

I'd be looking to make the investment for an access parcel next to the inheritance parcel and roll the dice.. I "think" Sis & BIL have a feeling they'll end up owning the entire farm based on their strategic location of the 5 acres and you'll give up due to lack-of or difficult access, or mentally wearing you down. If Sis & BIL realize their strategic advantage, and I think they do, I believe they are thinking of acquiring the entire farm because no one else would have interest in purchasing the place if I understand the resulting impacts of Sis & BIL's parcel claim.

Hopefully this all made sense.