Knowledge Builders

can you refuse to inherit a timeshare

by Zola Armstrong Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

In short, yes, you can refuse to inherit a timeshare. While the laws for rejecting an inherited timeshare can vary from state to state, the actual process will generally be the same and is known as “Renunciation of Property.”

Can you inherit a timeshare you don’t want?

Inherit a Timeshare You Don’t Want? Here’s What To Do If you are either left a timeshare in a will or are the legal heir of someone who owned a timeshare and died without a will, you may choose to refuse to accept your inheritance. In legal terms, this is generally called “renunciation of property.”

Can you refuse to accept an inherited timeshare in Georgia?

First of all, it’s important not to drag your feet if you inherit a timeshare or other property you don’t want. In the state of Georgia, you only have nine months from the time you inherit a property to refuse it. If you are under 21 years old when you inherit the property, you have nine months from the time you turn 21 to do it.

How do I refuse a timeshare from my parents?

Any experienced estate lawyer will advise you on ways to refuse the timeshare. If your estate lawyer says you must take it, your parents may have put your name on the deed when they originally purchased the timeshare. Or, your lawyer may simply be inexperienced with timeshare law.

What if my husband had left me a timeshare instead?

What if he had left me a timeshare instead? Unless that property possessed tremendous sentimental value or I knew that I would use it on a regular, long-term basis, I’d be wise to refuse it. That’s because timeshares come with high, mandatory, annual maintenance fees.

image

What happens if you refuse to inherit a timeshare?

If you do not want ownership of the timeshare, you can choose to decline the inheritance, in which case it would go to the next-of-kin. If they deny it, then the property would likely be foreclosed on and any debt would be paid through estate assets, if available.

How do I get out of a deceased timeshare parent?

You Can Refuse Your Timeshare Inheritance as a Beneficiary A timeshare ownership inheritance is no different and you can outright refuse it with the help of an estate planning attorney. Like handling any other estate asset, it's best to put everything in writing.

What happens to a timeshare after the owner dies?

However, in the case of an owner's death, a timeshare becomes part of that owner's estate, and thus, the benefits, investment, and obligations attached to it are passed onto the next-of-kin or the beneficiary of the estate.

Do my kids have to inherit my timeshare?

If you die owning a timeshare, it does become part of your estate and obligations are indeed passed onto the next-of-kin or the estate's beneficiaries. However, they do not have to accept it, in the same way that anyone has the right to refuse any part of an inheritance.

What happens if you inherit a timeshare?

Essentially, timeshare inheritance is bundled in with other estate assets an heir stands to receive. Some timeshare contracts have a perpetuity clause, which essentially means the timeshare title is owned forever, and is included in the original owner's estate (and therefore passed on to their inheritors).

Is timeshare in perpetuity legal?

The Supreme Court ruled that all contracts signed after 5th January 1999 must have a duration period of less than 50 years, thus outlawing the practice of “perpetuity contracts” which had been prevalent since the 1980s.

Can you just walk away from a timeshare?

With most timeshare companies, the answer is no—unless you happen to still be in a “cooling off” period that lasts for just a few days. If you only recently bought your timeshare, you might be able to rescind the contract (which means to cancel it).

Can a timeshare put a lien on your house?

Owning a timeshare is like owning a home, but only a fraction of it. If you have a timeshare mortgage, the lender automatically holds a lien against the property until you repay the mortgage balance. Other creditors may put a lien against the property by going to court and obtaining a judgment.

Can you give a timeshare back to the resort?

Ask the Resort to Take It Back Some are surprisingly simple, like a timeshare deed-back. This is a legal, low-cost way to give the property back to the resort. Look through your timeshare's paperwork to see if this is an option for you.

Is it worth to inherit a timeshare?

One of the biggest questions about inheritance is whether it's good or bad to leave your timeshare to your children. While this is a common scenario, it's often a mistake. It is better to abandon a timeshare before your children are old enough to pay the fees themselves. Leaving it to your children is a waste of money.

Can you sell an inherited timeshare?

If you do inherit a timeshare that you don't think you'll get good use out of, you can sell it on the resale market.

What happens if you stop paying maintenance fees on a timeshare?

If you stop paying it, the timeshare company will do whatever it takes to collect. They'll make phone calls and send letters, then they'll assign it over to (you guessed it) a collections company. If you still don't pay, the situation sinks even further into foreclosure and possible legal action against you.

Can you will a timeshare back to the resort?

They can, but the process is tricky. See, timeshare salespeople often use the resale possibility as a selling point to potential buyers. However, this assurance is not always reliable. Deed-back programs allow you to sell your timeshare interest back to your resort developer.

How do you get out of a timeshare when your spouse dies?

One way of leaving your timeshare to a beneficiary after your death is to modify your will or revocable trust. The modification should include a specific section in the document that describes the time share and makes a specific bequest to the designated heir or heirs.

What happens if you stop paying maintenance fees on timeshare?

If you stop paying your timeshare maintenance fees, you will likely default on your ownership. This not only hurts the resort, but it hurts you and your credit. Like a home going into foreclosure, the resort takes the ownership back and it will stay on your credit report.

How can you cancel a timeshare?

If you no longer want your timeshare and the state where you bought your timeshare has a rescission period, you can cancel your timeshare agreement by sending the resort a letter stating you no longer want to own the timeshare via certified mail. A rescission period is often just three or five days long.

What happens if you leave a timeshare in a will?

If you are either left a timeshare in a will or are the legal heir of someone who owned a timeshare and died without a will, you may choose to refuse to accept your inheritance. In legal terms, this is generally called “renunciation of property.”

How long do you have to wait to inherit a timeshare in Georgia?

First of all, it’s important not to drag your feet if you inherit a timeshare or other property you don’t want. In the state of Georgia, you only have nine months from the time you inherit a property to refuse it. If you are under 21 years old when you inherit the property, you have nine months from the time you turn 21 to do it.

How long do you have to be 21 to get a timeshare?

If you are under 21 years old when you inherit the property, you have nine months from the time you turn 21 to do it. It’s very important that you not use the timeshare or receive any sort of compensation from it during these nine months. If you do, you’ll give up your right to refuse the property. 2.

Where to file a renunciation of timeshare?

Finally, you’ll want to file a copy of your renunciation in the county probate court where the estate that’s willed you the timeshare is being handled. This will serve as an official record of your renunciation in case it is ever questioned.

Can you disclaim a timeshare if you inherit it?

In this article, we’ll go over how to disclaim a timeshare if you’ve inherited one against your will. Keep in mind that the process for doing this can vary from state to state. You’ll want to check the laws where you live, but in general the process should be pretty much the same.

Can timeshares be sold back to estate?

So the timeshare goes back to the estate. They cannot close the estate until the estate sells the timeshare.

Is a timeshare a defective product?

Money expert Clark Howard calls timeshares “ a defective product ” and says that “when you buy a timeshare, the next day it’s worth less than zero — because, basically, there are no buyers.”. The same goes for inheriting a timeshare.

What happens if you refuse a timeshare?

In general, if you refuse a timeshare, it will go to the next person in line to inherit. If that person doesn’t want it, they too must file their own Disclaimer of Interest. A word of warning. You can’t legally disclaim a timeshare that you’ve used to benefit yourself after an inheritance.

What is timeshare specialist?

Timeshare Specialists has been a leader in Timeshare Divestment since 2014, we’ve helped thousands of owners just like you find the right way to get out of timeshare ownership. Our goal is to be sure you make the right decision so we’ll assess your ownership and let you know your options.

What happens if you file a Disclaimer of Interest?

Be sure of your decision. Once you file a Disclaimer of Interest, your decision is permanent. In other words, you will have renounced your interest and won’t be able to give the property to charity or your best friend.

What is a disclaimer of interest?

File a “Disclaimer of Interest”, this is a written refusal to accept the timeshare. A qualified estate attorney can help you with the paperwork.

How to stop a property from putting into foreclosure?

Also, if the unit has a mortgage, have the executor send the resort or bank a copy of the death certificate to stop them from putting the property into foreclosure.

Can you overpay to list timeshares?

Ready to list your timeshare? Buy and Sell Timeshares, offers affordable subscription based pricing, so you won't over pay to list your ownership.

Do timeshares come with maintenance fees?

That’s because timeshares come with high, mandatory, annual maintenance fees . Even a “free” timeshare will cost much more than you might imagine in the long run. If you are bequeathed a timeshare that you don’t want or can’t use, here’s how to legally disclaim it: File a “Disclaimer of Interest”, this is a written refusal to accept the timeshare.

What happens to timeshares when you die?

If you die owning a timeshare, it does become part of your estate and obligations are indeed passed onto the next-of-kin or the estate’s beneficiaries. However, they do not have to accept it, in the same way that anyone has the right to refuse any part of an inheritance.

How long do you have to file a timeshare after death?

There are time limits–in some states, you have only nine months after the death of a loved one to file. When the next-of-kin rejects the timeshare, it may go to the next heir, and the next, and the next, etc. Every family member must file their own disclaimer.

What is a perpetuity clause in a timeshare?

Many timeshare contracts include a perpetuity clause, which means the contract and all its fees and obligations are yours for life. It may not end there.

How long do you have to disclaim a timeshare?

There are time limits–in some states, you have only nine months after the death of a loved one to file.

What did one woman's parents love about timeshare?

One woman’s parents loved their timeshare. They travelled to one for skiing, another to relax in the sun, and others according to availability and their travel plans. The entire family went on trips and all enjoyed the flexibility.

Can you use timeshare if you refuse?

There may be leftover debts for unpaid fees, and the estate may have to fork over those payments. A few tips: if you are planning on refusing a timeshare, you cannot use it. Don’t try it out, let a friend use it or go one last time. If you wish to disclaim something, you cannot receive any benefit of the thing you are disclaiming.

Can timeshares be sold for less?

Unwanted timeshares usually sell for far less than the original purchase price. Selling a timeshare involves a market loaded with scammers who promise a quick sale, while charging thousands of dollars upfront. If possible, speak with your parents and their estate planning attorney to head the problem off in advance.

What happens if a timeshare owner dies?

If the timeshare is the “right to use” type, the heirs should direct the executor to inform the resort that the owner died, so the resort can take steps to take back the timeshare, Finn says.

Why put heirs names on timeshare deed?

Timeshare salespeople may encourage putting heirs’ names on the deed as a “convenience” to make it easier for an owner’s children to use the property on their own , Finn says. What this actually does is trap the kids into inheriting the timeshare.

What is a timeshare contract?

For those who don’t know, timeshares are a way to use vacation property for a week each year. Traditionally timeshares included a real estate deed, but now they’re commonly sold as a “right to use” contract “that’s more like a gym membership,” says timeshare attorney Michael Finn of Largo, Florida.

Can a daughter keep timeshares?

The daughters, who are co-trustees with their parents, can keep the timeshares, sell them or abandon them after the parents’ deaths, Barbara Ruh says. The trust is designed to prevent the timeshare resort developer from going after their daughters for any unpaid or ongoing costs.

Do you need a trust for a timeshare?

Timeshare experts say it’s usually not necessary to create a trust, with its attendant hassles and expense, to avoid inheriting a parent’s vacation ownership. Families have a variety of options to assure nobody's getting an obligation they don't want.

Can you abandon a timeshare?

If the resort refuses, the owner can abandon the timeshare, although that may lead to collection actions and damage to the owner’s credit.

Do timeshares have to be for life?

Here are three important things to know: 1. Timeshares don't have to be for life. If it’s clear none of the kids wants the timeshare, owners may be able to sell or give away their interest before death, assuming any financing used to purchase it has been paid off.

How to refuse a timeshare?

Or, your lawyer may simply be inexperienced with timeshare law. One of the most common ways to refuse the timeshare is by issuing a “Disclaimer of Interest.”. Your estate lawyer should be able to help you complete all the paperwork.

What to do if you haven't inherited a timeshare?

To start, if you haven’t yet inherited the timeshare, all you need to do is refuse to take it. Some timeshare contracts are written in ways that will make you think you have to take it, but that’s a lie. Any experienced estate lawyer will advise you on ways to refuse the timeshare.

Why do timeshare exit companies exist?

Some timeshare exit companies are only able to help timeshare owners exit their timeshare if those owners feel they were deceived when purchasing the timeshare.

Can you inherit a timeshare from your parents?

It’s understandable. Even if the timeshare was paid off when you inherited it, the savings still don’ t really exist.

Can you sell timeshares on Craigslist?

You can attempt to sell the timeshare on ebay or craigslist, but most timeshares are never sold on the resale market because no one wants to buy them. Most charities won’t accept a timeshare donation because they don’t want to take on the timeshare’s yearly maintenance fees.

Can you give back timeshares?

You can attempt to give the timeshare back to the resort, but that rarely works as well, especially if there is a mortgage balance on the timeshare. The resorts want to keep collecting yearly maintenance fees from you so they usually don’t take timeshares back.

Can you still work with a timeshare if you inherited it?

You inherited it. Fortunately, there are a few timeshare exit companies that will still be willing to work with you even if you inherited the timeshare . These exit companies will typically advise you to stop making payments on the timeshare and let it go in to foreclosure.

image

1.Can You Refuse To Inherit A Timeshare? | Finn Law …

Url:https://finnlawgroup.com/refuse-inherit-timeshare/

19 hours ago  · You should be aware that when you refuse a timeshare inheritance, you will not be able to use it. Additionally, the timeshare could very well then pass to the person next in line to …

2.How To Refuse an Inherited Timeshare - Clark Howard

Url:https://clark.com/travel/refuse-inherited-timeshare/

15 hours ago  · If you are either left a timeshare in a will or are the legal heir of someone who owned a timeshare and died without a will, you may choose to refuse to accept your …

3.Can you refuse to inherit a timeshare? - Quora

Url:https://www.quora.com/Can-you-refuse-to-inherit-a-timeshare

26 hours ago In general, if you refuse a timeshare, it will go to the next person in line to inherit. If that person doesn’t want it, they too must file their own Disclaimer of Interest. A word of warning. You can’t …

4.Can You Be Forced to Inherit a Timeshare? - Legacy …

Url:https://www.legacyplanninglawgroup.com/can-you-be-forced-to-inherit-a-timeshare/

28 hours ago  · If you don’t want to inherit a timeshare in California, you have a choice. And if you’ve been lied to by a timeshare company, you may have legal claims. Consumer Protection

5.How Not to Inherit Mom’s Timeshare - NerdWallet

Url:https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/inheriting-timeshares

9 hours ago  · If your parents have passed away and left their timeshare to you in a will or you are their legal heir, you can refuse the inheritance. If you don’t want to inherit rising fees, you need …

6.How To Get Rid of a Timeshare Inherited From Parents

Url:https://www.timeshareexitcompanies.com/how-to-get-rid-of-a-timeshare-inherited-from-parents/

20 hours ago Answer (1 of 4): Yes you can. If you cannot get any help from the resort then you can do this on your own. The timeshare inheritance is a legal contract & if you don’t remove yourself, you will …

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9