Gay Tenant Dies! Families CRAZY! Legal advice? - Posted by Melony-FL
Posted by Melony-FL on November 23, 2000 at 11:39:55:
This is a new one on me! I need help!!!
I had 2 Gay tenants, lets call them Joe and Alan. They have been together for 18 years, although Joe was married previously and has children. Alan only has siblings. Three months ago, Joe was diagnosed with cancer, and proceded down hill quickly. At the same time, Alan was diagnosed with AIDS. Last week, BOTH were admitted to the hospital, totally unable to care for themselves. Last Friday, Joe died.
Alan is still in the hospital, but has only a short time to live. His mind is totally gone. and we can’t even have a conversation with him. The doctors have told the family he will never recover, and he must go into a home to be taken care of until he passes.
Enter the families. Each is demanding that they get into the apartment and claim all of the belongings. Joes family says that, since Joe was the “provider” and was the only financial supporter in the household, all of the things belong to him, and should be divided amongst his family. Alan’s family says that since he is the “surviver” and the other signator on the lease, everything in the apartment belongs to him. They even got upset when Joe’s son went in and took out some of his personal stuff!
As bad as we feel (they were PERFECT tenants and good friends), we need to get this settled and their things out of the apartment. We have suggested that they sell everything, and split any income they receive. I know in a traditional marriage, Alan would receive everything. However, this is NOT a traditional marriage, and Alan will never be returning home, anyway!
Of course, there has been no will found. The sad part is that, neither of the families had much to do with them while alive, now everyone is coming out of the woodwork.
Can anyone give me any answers?