When I read threads like this I really wonder the point if having a will when married if ultimately you can challenge it all in the basis of the marriage.
Relative has no intention of fighting it out in court and wants to mediate giving the girls their 80% but to remain in the house until death or downsize
If they want to remain in the house, they are ultimately asking for more than what they'd get through divorce as most likely, with no young kids, the house would be expected to be sold and assets shared.
This woman was able to buy outright so either through inheritance herself, divorce and share of assets of previous marriage or bloody hard work.
Understandable that she wouldn't have out him on the deeds at the start of the relationship. But after marriage, years together and him investing almost 50% if the initial cost, it's very odd that she still wouldn't have done so in latter years.
Odd that she went and got a will without telling him, that was detrimental to him, and that she lied about having one all together.
These are not the actions of a wife in adoration of her husband at all. It sounds like she wanted to repay him for his investment but leave all her assets to her daughters, yet that wish will be denied in her death.
I think that's terrible and so hope the girls win, not because they deserve the money more than him but because this was the wishes of their mum.
Why can't he respect that? The will was written 3 years ago, not 10 years ago when they'd just met.