Please Help! My Uncle Had A Long Time, Live In Girlfriend Of 17 Years, Who Passed Away Over A Year Ago. (michigan) The House And Car Were Only In Her Name. The Heirs Have Not Done Anything With Estate. Does He Have Any Shot Of Keeping Either? He Has Been Maintaining The House And Paying Taxes.

To clarify, she owned the house a couple years before he moved in. At that time she had rented it to her sister, but when the sister moved out, it was in unlivable condition because of what she had done to it.

My uncle then did what he needed to in order to make it livable again, so the two of them could move into it. He had to replace the drywall throughout the home, completely redo the bathroom and many other things.

They have lived in it for the past 17 years. She was very sick the last few years of her life, and he took care of her, feeding her, changing her and so forth. He loved her dearly, they just never bothered to get married.

He continues to live in and maintain the house. He also pays for the utilities and taxes on the house (house has been paid off a long time).

As for the car, they both went to the dealership but my Uncle had bad credit, so the loan was only in her name, despite him giving her the money for the payments. When they bought it, they also purchased insurance that would pay off the loan should anything happen to her. So after she passed, he was able to send the death certificate and other necessary papers to get the loan paid off in full. The kids are not aware of this. They are under the assumption that the vehicle will eventually be repossessed by the dealer.

He hasn't been driving it though, as the kids took the title and both sets of keys after their mom passed. They didn't really specify that he couldn't keep it, but taking the keys and title pretty much said it. At the time, it was just stated that the concern was the plates had just expired.

One of the kids would probably let him keep both but another is out for any money she can get her hands on, so we anticipate her trying to get possession of both. My Uncle is very concerned with not trying to screw anyone over though.

In the meantime, nothing has been done with the estate. The kids said they don't have money to retain an attorney to take care of it.

So what happens now and is there any chance he could keep either? He is on disability and has very limited income so retaining an attorney is not something in the cards for him either.

There was no will that anyone is aware of either.

Also beyond the scope of the estate of the deceased, are there laws that exist in a michigan where someone would assume possession of a property after a certain amount of time living in it?