My DM lives with my stepdad and has done for years now. They’re not married. House is in DM’s name as she bought it and paid off mortgage early too.
Plan on her death is to leave house 3 ways to me, DB and stepdad - that’s in her will. It’s a big Victorian house in a now desirable area and stepdad wouldn’t be able to buy us out. He’s 10 years younger than her.
I had no idea until I asked her recently that the house is still in her sole name and she has no intention of either marrying him, civil partnership or putting in both their names. DM was married and divorced twice in the past, so was my real dad (3x) and so was her DM (my nana). There were issues with legacies and wills in the past in our family on DM’s side. Me and stepdad I won’t lie have crossed swords in past, he’s sort of ok now. He goes from being charming to very sarcastic and sometimes unpleasant to me for no reason when I visit. DM and me just accept that’s the way he is and he won’t change now. He’s also been violent and a functioning alcoholic in the past. Lies a bit too. I’m now feeling slightly guilty though, I’ve got my own house but when DM dies I might feel uncomfortable selling a house where he’s lived most of his adult life so we get our share. I think (so does DM but she never confronted him) that he had an affair once too, maybe that’s the reason. Not sure if the OW is still around. I’d lay money if I hired a private detective they’d find out but don’t want to open Pandora’s box up.
So what could/would you do? Legally they’ve sorted things out with separate wills including a holiday home they both own in France. Stepdad has more money in savings and DM has lots of investments. I suppose it’s more a moral question rather than legal maybe.