2 entitled sisters demand "their cut" of the youngest sibling's house after their mother passes because Mom helped pay for it: ‘I paid the $80k deposit, and Mom helped with the mortgage’

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Feb 28, 2026 3:00 PM EST

Frugal siblings catch heat when their sisters get jealous, especially when it comes to family inheritance disputes. 

Likewise, when this young woman, the most financially savvy of the family, was in her early 20s, she invested in a house that she and her mother could share together as roommates. After living with one another for 5 years, she moved in with her husband, continuing to rent to Mom until her final days. 

But now the siblings want "their cut" of the house their mom lived in, despite the house being 100% owned by Lil Sis.

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  • A woman is spending time with her senior mother on their property.
    via MoMo Productions

    A woman is spending time with her senior mother on their property.

    (Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)

  • [I'm] not giving my siblings a percentage of house our mother lived in

    | 35F bought my first house when I was 23 for me and my mom to live in after renting for many years. I paid the $80k deposit, and my mom helped with the mortgage, paying $300
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • a week while we lived there together. I did this because I didn't want to live alone or pay rent to someone else, which allowed for I to improve my finances.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • When I moved out at 27 with my husband and later had 3 kids, my mom started paying $450 a week, and I covered the rest of the mortgage, which wasn't much.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • A woman is having tea with her mother on the porch.
    via MoMo Productions

    A woman is having tea with her mother on the porch.

    (Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)

  • The pair were roommates at first, living together to save money and make financially frugal decisions. If anything, the youngest sibling started paving the way for her mother's sunset years, investing in a house that she could control the rent and keep her mother safe in the event that she needed help or maintenance. 

    This is what it looks like to be a good kid to your aging parents.

    None of this was intended to cut the others out; they made their position clear when they decided to focus on their own lives instead of helping out Mom. 

  • Now my mom has passed away, and my two sisters (38 and 40) think they should get part of the house. I don't agree. They say since I already own another house, I don't need it, and they
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • want to split it three ways and rent it out. I've said no because my husband and I do not want to rent it out as It hurts me to think of someone else in my mothers house and I know they couldn't afford the mortgage and their own bills.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • Because of this, they've started arguing, calling me selfish because they think I already have "everything" and they don't. But I have not spent over $200k on that house just to give it to someone else for free.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • They also believe that since house prices have gone up significantly that I'm to earn an extra couple hundred thousand which I might but I always paid for the property taxes and any maintenance needed.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • However, I do know my mother spent her money on this house over the years and are forever grateful she could help me out so I offered each $5k which is
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • all I can spare after having to pay for most of my mother's funeral and headstone. But they believe it's not enough and are continuing to argue with me about this.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • LITTLE UPDATE TOO: My middle sister called again, saying I'm being greedy and that her daughter should get a share too. I love my niece as she's my only niece and very special to me but
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • I still said no. In my mind, she's always welcome to stay at my home or the other house anytime once everything is sorted. But she won't receive any percentage of the house because her mother didn't contribute anything.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • I told my sister to stop calling about it, or she wouldn't be welcome at my house. I don't want my children hearing or seeing their mum and aunt arguing nor do I want my niece
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • to hear. She said that was fine because she wouldn't want to visit someone so greedy anyway. JUST FOR NEW COMERS AS I KNOW SOME ARE CONFUSED:
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • - I'm solely on the deed - No arrangement was made - Mother paid well below market rent. 2 houses down just listed their house for 650 weekly
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • A woman is enjoying the afternoon with her senior mother.
    via MoMo Productions

    A woman is enjoying the afternoon with her senior mother. 

    (Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)

  • When I was in my 20s, I also lived with my mother. For complicated reasons, neither of us had an apartment lined up around the same time both of our leases were ending. I was looking for roommates, and she was looking to cut costs, so it just made sense that we would move in together. Obviously, my situation is a little more financially dismal, because if I could have afforded an $80k downpayment, I certainly would have bought a house of my own to share with Mom, but instead, we shared a tiny studio together by the beach. 

    Our years living together brought us closer, but also helped teach us both about shared finances and pulling our weight financially. It seems to me that the woman in this story did just that, splitting costs with her mom like roommates and finally undercharging her for market rate once she was independent enough to move out. 

    The siblings were just jealous that she was smarter with her money, that's all. 

    If they wanted to buy a house for Mom to live in, too, they could have considered that in their own 5-year plan, but instead, when they were 20-something, they were more focused on the clubs, living downtown, and living with their friends. It's not so glamorous to live with an aging parent, but at the end of the day, that can be what paves your financial future. 

  • MikotoSuohsWife Wait a minute. You bought this house and its in your name presumably and they want it why? Because your mom lived there? Is this house entirely in your name? Did your mom have any stake in the game?
    via MikotoSuohsWife
  • OP Motor_Aerie1485 Yes, that's why they want it. They think they're entitled to it because she paid half and lived in it, so they see it as partly hers. But the house is fully in my name. Honestly, I always thought of it as my mom's house and never really saw it any other way. But I won't ever say that to them.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • MikotoSuohsWife Then absolutely NTA. The fact is you bought the house. Name and mortgage entirely in your name. All risk on you and you final owner. Your mother at that point was effectively more like a tenant. Had she had her name on deed and mortgage, I would say at BEST your sisters may be entitled to a 1/3rd of the portion of what your mother paid into the home. You also retaining 1/3rd since you're also a living relative/descendant. Idk how inheritance laws may work where you live. But no.
    via MikotoSuohsWife
  • OP Motor_Aerie1485 I agree even more than ever now.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • NTA. Down-Right-Mystical If you hadn't bought that house your mother would have continued renting, so the money she spent on the mortgage would still not be there, anyway, and there would be nothing for your siblings to ask for. At least, that's the way I look at it. The money your mother spent was the same as paying rent, it just so happens that you were the landlord. It's your house, do with it what you wish.
    via Down-Right-Mystical
  • OP Motor_Aerie1485 That's how I see it. Thank you. Needed clarification from unbiased people as all I've heard these past weeks was I was in the wrong and began doubting myself.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • Usual-Canary-7764 Tell them to go and ask their landlords for partial ownership in the houses they rent(ed). Once they get that stake you will be willing to listen to their proposal on your house. Your mom paid money that you put towards the mortgage (like most landlords do) but she was essentially just renting at under market value. NTA
    via Usual-Canary-7764
  • Sofa_Queen Yes, I have. My husband and I bought his parent's house after his mom died. The dad lived there for a while, then remarried and moved out. Husband's two sisters moved in, RENT FREE, for about 3 years. Then we decided to sell the house. Now, we paid the dad full price, paid for all the maintenance and taxes, for over 5 years. When we bought the house, it needed a TON of maintenance. Sisters moved out, we sold the house. That's when the four siblings came with their hands out, expecting
    via Sofa_Queen
  • OP Motor_Aerie1485 Cannot believe they asked for money after living there rent free. That's worse then ever thought could happen.
    via Motor_Aerie1485
  • Off2xtremes Legally, in California at least, if the house is in your name, end of story. Your mom paid rent to live there. That's an expense, not equity. Even in a divorce it would be considered your separate property.
    via Off2xtremes
  • camkats Nta it's not your mothers house. It's yours bottom line
    via camkats
  • kalixanthippe Careful with that, as one may "holiday" and never leave. Happens a LOT in families.
    via kalixanthippe
  • Fancy-Still-4297 NTA and you have greedy unprincipled sisters. you took all the risk and depending on COL It is likely that your mother paid below market rent - and rent does not build equity. and you paid your mothers funeral costs. your sisters owe you money. don't pay them one penny.
    via Fancy-Still-4297

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