New queries, issue 4349

Keep it in the family

A residential property was owned by my grandmother and lived in by her and one of her daughters aunt M. On my grandmother’s death in 1964 the property was left equally to my father his sister (my aunt M) (born in February 1909) and his sister my aunt J (born in January 1913).

My grandmother’s will contained the proviso that aunt M could live there rent free for as long as she wished. Codicils to my father’s and aunt J’s wills confirmed this position. Aunt J was widowed and in the early 1970s went to live rent free with aunt M in the property.

My father’s one third share was left on his death in 1995 equally to my sister O and myself (via a deed of variation).

Aunt M died in 2000 leaving her one-third share...