Assalaam Alaikum,
I am reaching out to gain some guidance regarding proper division of property after the passing of my father.
Background: My father had bought a property in my mother’s name and she passed away in 2007. My father then married for a second time in 2012. We are trying to figure out if the second wife has any right to the property, as it was my mother’s property. In his lifetime, he said to us verbally that the house belongs to his 3 kids as it is his first wife’s property.
Is my step mother entitled to receive anything from my deceased mother’s property after my father’s death?
Jazak Allah khair,
Asma Rehman
بسم اللہ الرحمٰن الرحیم
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
If the father bought the house in the name of your mother and gave it into her possession; in that case, the house will be considered property of your mother. The stepmother will have no right to that property.
But if the father bought it in the name of your mother on papers, but did not give it into her possession, then it will be considered as the property of the father, and the stepmother will also have the right to it.
وأما شرائط صحتہا فأنواع: … وأما في الموہوب فہو أن یکون الموہوب مقبوضًا حتی لا یثبت الملک للموہوب لہ قبل القبض، وأن یکون الموہوب مقسومًا، إذا کان مما یحتمل القسمۃ، وأن یکون الموہوب متمیزًا عن غیر الموہوب ولا یکون متصلاً، ولا مشغولاً بغیر الموہوب۔
(الفتاویٰ التاتارخانیۃ ۱۴؍۴۱۲-۴۱۳ رقم: ۲۱۵۳۶ زکریا)
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب