I am Canadian (Ontario) but hope someone might be able to offer me some knowledge of Canadian law for my issue.
I need to protect myself legally from two very irresponsible parents. I recently found out that neither one has life insurance, both have mortgages, neither have any savings to speak of. They have been seperated for 25 years, but not legally divorced. Father (73 years) has been living with a woman for 20 years. Mother (71 years) had a partner who passed on six years ago, leaving her nothing but the mortgage and no mortgage insurance. I believe my sister is named as successor on both their wills, but she has followed in their footsteps - has no job, no money, nothing. I am terrified that when parents pass on, it will all fall into my lap. I certainly can not take any of that on- I can only support myself as it is - and am afraid it will then fall into my husband's lap.
What are my rights? How can I legally protect myself from having their irresponsibility come down on me? Is it possible to disown them? Should I consider divorcing my husband to protect him? I am estranged from my father, but on speaking terms with mother - but she is mentally delicate and any talk of her financial situation makes her drop into debilitating depressions - she can not be spoken to on serious matters.
If I may expand - my mother's mental state is not one of frailty - it is abusive. She has always been mentally abusive to my sister and myself with pathological guilt, threats, etc. I do not want to come across as cold and callous in my legal question. I simply need to know what my rights are to protect myself from people that have never done anything to help themselves or plan for their future.
I need to protect myself legally from two very irresponsible parents. I recently found out that neither one has life insurance, both have mortgages, neither have any savings to speak of. They have been seperated for 25 years, but not legally divorced. Father (73 years) has been living with a woman for 20 years. Mother (71 years) had a partner who passed on six years ago, leaving her nothing but the mortgage and no mortgage insurance. I believe my sister is named as successor on both their wills, but she has followed in their footsteps - has no job, no money, nothing. I am terrified that when parents pass on, it will all fall into my lap. I certainly can not take any of that on- I can only support myself as it is - and am afraid it will then fall into my husband's lap.
What are my rights? How can I legally protect myself from having their irresponsibility come down on me? Is it possible to disown them? Should I consider divorcing my husband to protect him? I am estranged from my father, but on speaking terms with mother - but she is mentally delicate and any talk of her financial situation makes her drop into debilitating depressions - she can not be spoken to on serious matters.
If I may expand - my mother's mental state is not one of frailty - it is abusive. She has always been mentally abusive to my sister and myself with pathological guilt, threats, etc. I do not want to come across as cold and callous in my legal question. I simply need to know what my rights are to protect myself from people that have never done anything to help themselves or plan for their future.
