In December 2005, we had to “fish or cut bait.” We had a nice design for an addition to Priscilla’s home for our law office and space for Patricia and her family to live.
We confirmed that Priscilla could get the financing to fund the construction, even with the unexpectedly high cost. It would be a stretch, but it seemed possible.
Our one builder who bid the job checked out reasonably. We applied for and worked with the appropriate department for the building permit. And Patricia’s baby was getting more real by the day. It was a boy, to be named Benjamin, and the weight and shape of Patricia’s front-side said time was flying by.
Getting scheduled to start during the construction boom remained a challenge, and the weather was not fully cooperative. We broke ground March 17, 2006. Ben was due in less than two months, so Patricia was going to have to try to list her own house for sale while pregnant or just after becoming a first-time mother.
Since we now were fishing, we needed to put to paper our initial ideas about how to adjust our families’ plans to account for the new reality to come. Things like sharing expenses, dividing maintenance responsibilities, dividing house space (!), and transitioning ownership of the new combined home fairly over the years to come.
For help considering and documenting your own plans for multi-generational living, call our office at (815) 436-1996 to set an appointment. © 2012 Gruber Law Office, Ltd.