🌍 Children, inheritance & global · #185

One sibling has lived rent-free in the family house for years. Is that fair to the other heirs?

Living alone in a jointly owned house without an agreed arrangement can indeed be unfair to the other heirs. As long as the estate has not been divided, every heir has a share in that house. Many families let a sibling stay out of compassion or because he cared for the parents earlier, and that is a fine kindness if everyone is content. Problems arise when that agreement was never discussed. Sit down together and make a clear arrangement: he lives there free of charge with written consent, pays a fair rent, or buys out the other heirs' shares in instalments. Also hear his side of the story before drawing conclusions. See faraid in the family.

← PreviousSomeone claims the deceased owed him money, but there is no written proof. Must we pay it?Next →The deceased's house is being rented out until the estate is divided. Who does the rent belong to?

Related questions

My siblings want to sell our late father's house, while our mother still lives there. What should we do?The house is jointly owned by all the heirs, including Mother, so a sale needs consent or a lawful decision, not pre…One heir lives abroad and is hard to reach. How can the estate matters go ahead?The estate matters can go ahead, but that heir’s share remains his right and cannot be ignored. Try to contact hi…I nursed my sick husband for years, yet my share of the estate is the same as my co-wife's, who rarely came. Is that fair?Your sacrifice is real and not wasted in Allah’s sight, even though faraid divides equally between wives. Faraid fixes rights by…My family is pressuring me to give up my share of the estate to my other siblings. Must I comply?No; giving up a share of the estate must be done willingly, not because of pressure. Consent given out of embarra…Our mother has died and our stepfather still lives in her house. Does he have a right to the house?As your late mother’s husband, your stepfather is a lawful heir and is entitled to part of the house. If your mother le…Is a widow entitled to live in her late husband's house during ʿiddah even if the house is part of the estate?According to the stronger view in the Shafi'i school, a widow is entitled to live in the house where she was living when her hus…

This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

Comments or feedback

Read only by the MYPolygyny administrator — never published.

About Us · Ask · Site Map · Privacy · Editorial policy · Disclaimer