Ask Amy: Abandoned child now plagued by guilt
No, she cannot live with you. No, you cannot assume care for her in her home. But you may be able to ensure that she has a safe environment to live in. If she has no other family members, you might step up to be the contact person for her care facility.
Dear Amy: My father died about a year ago and left his house to me and my two sisters.
He informed us verbally before he died that the house is split evenly to each of us in thirds.
One sister was left in charge of his estate. Unfortunately, she recently lost her husband after a long illness, and has been grieving.
My father’s house has just been sitting there, with no one living in it.
How should I approach her to talk about the affairs of the house without causing an issue during her time of grief?
– Concerned Sibling
Dear Concerned: You might ask your sister if dealing with your father’s estate is a burden for her, and if so – you could offer to support her more in sorting through the various details and legal aspects of dealing with this property.
This important and challenging job can be overwhelming, and has reduced many a grieving person to become paralyzed.
I suggest that you speak to your sister gently and compassionately, while also being brave enough to express your concerns about the house: “I’d like to talk about Dad’s estate. Would you like to set up a specific time for the three of us to talk?”
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