Inside were copies of legal documents establishing a family property trust.
I stared at Dad.
“You put the house in a trust?”
“Your mother and I did.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“We didn’t think we needed to.”
The trust was straightforward.
Mom and Dad maintained full lifetime rights to the property.
Neither could be removed.
Neither could transfer the property without specific conditions being met.
After both of them passed away, the property would not automatically go to Derek or me.
Instead, it would be sold unless both brothers agreed to keep it jointly.
The proceeds would be divided.
There was also a smaller provision for the preservation of Dad’s workshop and tools, if one of us wanted to continue using them.
“So Derek can’t take the house,” I said.
“No.”
“Does he know?”
Dad hesitated.
“He knows something prevents him from changing the deed.”
