Friend and her late mother's "unreasonable" husband

[Icexream]

Friend lost her father 20+ years ago and mother remarried 17 years ago.

On her marriage she gave 25% of her house (former marital home, but not friend's childhood home) to her new DH. She has left a will that leaves her 75% to her DC.

Friend is obviously grieving, but all she wants to talk about is how difficult the DH is being because he wants some time to decide what to do about the house, to sort out personal possessions, has had his adult DC visiting him in "her" house. He's now asked a solicitor for advice regarding staying in the house, his home for 17 years, and delaying a sale.

All of which sounds perfectly reasonable to me, and I'm having to bite my tounge. Is there a way to say gently "isn't that what you'd do in his shoes"?

"If I were him I wouldn’t be going anywhere, it will take ages to force a sale, and he could put a claim in to amend the will so he gets a life interest. If I were your friend I’d be as nice as possible to him because he holds all the cards!"

How could he "put a claim in to amend the will" ?

At what point do you think it would be acceptable for your friend to want things to start moving along OP? Another 6 months? A year?

Your friend's step father presumably knew what was in the will and has had some time to prepare. What assets did he bring to the marriage? did he pay rent? or did he just move in to a house that was entirely owned by his wife (mortgage free)?

He's obviously ill-prepared for what has happened (her dying first) but that is not his step daughter's fault.

He could put a claim in under the Inherotance provision for family and dependents act and as a spouse if he doesn’t have enough money to buy somewhere else or maintain his standard of living the court could change the will so he inherits the whole house or gets a life interest.