Mimke Habben’s will gave his wife a life estate in his real estate after his death. This meant she could use the property, earn income from it, and (within reason) use it as she saw fit. She could not sell, mortgage, or bequeath the property. Her husband’s will indicated who was to get it upon her death–in this case it went to all their children.
There are reasons a person may do this. In Mimke’s case it prevented his wife from giving the entire farm to one child–which she tried to do by writing a will that a local judge refused to probate upon her death.
3 Responses
Have you found out why she tried to cut the other children out of their portion of the land?
I am not certain why, but the son she tried to will the property to had other heirs (children of pre-deceased siblings) sign over quitclaim deeds to him about the same time she wrote the will.
No…other than to leave everything to one son.