Sister wins legal fight to sell family home

Brothers who tried to stop their sister from selling their late mother’s BD200,000 home have lost their final bid in court. A judge has ordered the sale of the property and two ageing vehicles, ruling that none of the items could be divided fairly and that the assets must go to public auction. The woman, represented by lawyer Taqi Hussain, had turned to the courts after her attempts to settle the matter quietly came to nothing.

Her mother had died leaving behind a home and two cars — a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant and a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander — which were still jointly held by her and her five brothers. They objected. The men said the house was their only roof, but the court was unmoved. Accommodation It ruled that they were old enough and capable enough to arrange other accommodation, and found no health or legal obstacle to stop the sale. The Urban Planning and Development Authority, one of several state bodies pulled into the case, said the house could not be divided.

The zoning rules wouldn’t allow it. A valuation report backed that up, placing the market value of the land at BD200,000 and warning that splitting it would either break planning regulations or ruin its worth. Vehicles The Property Division also looked at the vehicles. The Galant was valued at BD800, while the Outlander at BD500. Neither could be divided, so both must be sold. The number plates are not included, as no evidence was provided to prove they belonged to the estate.

Other bodies involved included the General Directorate of Traffic and the State Cases Authority, added in line with the procedures that apply when dealing with estates and land. The Directorate of Minors’ Estates withdrew midway through the case, following the death of one of the heirs in its care.