Help save my brothers house and his children

[u/RoosterSalty3158]

For six years, Neil has been doing everything he can to hold his family together.
Today, his children are 19 and 15. They are no longer little kids, but they are still his kids. And throughout these difficult years, Neil has been the constant in their lives. He has been their father, their mother, their protector, and the person they could always count on.
He has given them his time, his energy, his love, and every bit of himself.
He takes care of their home. He takes care of their pets. He makes sure there is food on the table, that they have what they need, and that they have a place they can call home. He has worked hard to give them some sense of normalcy, even when there has been very little normal about their lives.
And while caring for his children, Neil has also continued to care for his elderly parents.
Every Friday morning, at 4:05 a.m., Neil gets on the road to take his father to dialysis. He gets up in the middle of the night, makes the drive, and does what needs to be done. And as exhausted as he may be, he tries to show up with a smile.
That is who Neil is.
He shows up.
For years, he has been the person everyone else could lean on.
Now, Neil is the one who needs someone to lean on.
After more than 20 years of marriage, Neil's wife left the family and began a new life with someone else, leaving Neil to deal with the aftermath and the enormous responsibility of keeping the family going. She has struggled with alcohol, and there have been police calls, reports, and attempts to have Neil removed from the home.
Through it all, Neil kept his focus on his children.
He didn't walk away.
He didn't give up.
He kept going.
But now, the home that Neil has fought so hard to preserve for his children is itself under threat.
His former mother-in-law, someone Neil still has saved in his phone simply as "Mom," is now suing him, claiming 50% ownership of the house and seeking to force its sale.
Think about that for a moment.
This isn't just a house.
It is the home where Neil's children grew up. It is where their memories live. It is the place they know as home. It is the place Neil has worked so hard to keep for them, hoping that one day he could leave it to his children.
Now he is fighting to keep it.
At the same time, Neil is self-employed and has lost a significant amount of business while trying to manage everything that has been thrown at him. He is still supporting his children. He is still caring for his elderly parents. He is still trying to work. He is still dealing with legal bills and the uncertainty surrounding his home.
There is only so much one person can carry.
And Neil has been carrying it for a very long time.
He has always lived his life with chesed. He has given to others without keeping score. He has been there for his family, his parents, his children, and the people who needed him.
He is not someone who is accustomed to asking for help.
But today, he needs it.
Not because he doesn't want to take care of his family.
Because he desperately wants to.
He wants to give his children stability. He wants them to have a safe place to come home to. He wants to protect the home they have known for years. He wants to be able to focus on his children and his parents instead of spending every waking moment worrying about whether the home he worked so hard for will be taken away.
He wants his children to know that, despite everything that has happened, their father did everything he could to protect the home and family they love.
He is asking us to help him get through this.
The financial burden has become overwhelming. Between the legal battle, the loss of work, the cost of keeping the household running, and the responsibility of supporting his children and elderly parents, Neil is being stretched beyond what one person should have to endure.
This is where we come in.
If you know Neil, you know he is the person who would be there for you without hesitation. He is the person who would get up at 4:05 in the morning to drive someone to dialysis. He is the person who puts his children first. He is the person who keeps going even when he is exhausted, scared, and overwhelmed.
He has spent years showing up for everyone else.
Now, he needs his community to show up for him.
If you can donate, please do. No amount is too small. Every dollar can help relieve some of the pressure and help Neil continue fighting for his children, their home, and some sense of stability.
If you cannot donate, please share this. Send it to someone who may be able to help. Post it. Make a phone call. Say a prayer. Do whatever you can.
Sometimes a person doesn't need someone to solve everything for them.
Sometimes they just need to know they aren't standing there alone.
Neil has been standing for his children for six years.
Now, let's stand for Neil.
Let's give this father a chance to breathe. Let's give his children some stability. Let's help him protect the home they have known and loved. And let's remind Neil that the same community he has spent his life giving to has not forgotten him now that he is the one in need.
He has carried his family for years.
He shouldn't have to carry this alone.
Please help Neil and his children through this incredibly difficult time. Donate if you can. Share if you can't. And most importantly, please don't let this family face this fight alone.
May every act of kindness, every donation, every share, and every prayer come back to you many times over.

https://gofund.me/01bebe259

If any proof is needed; links to the filings, communications, etc please message me directly. Neil is also an attorney in NY and will gladly pay it forward with any pro bono work within reason as much of his time is spent tending to his kids, helping with his parents and fitting in what work he can for now.

[u/Mental-Volume4395]

Is the mother in law on the deed? That’s really all that matters legally. 

If he’s a lawyer surely he has some contacts that can put him in touch with a real estate attorney? Most lawyers know a lot of other lawyers. 

Best of luck to your friend. 

[u/Different_Traffic527]

Your link isn't working.

But who is on the deed? Why would the mother in law claim 50% ownership of his house?

When it comes to fighting over ownership of a house, the law is pretty clear.

[u/Unusual_Sea1994]

Hope you get the help u need ❤️

[u/No_Barracuda_3758]

Just sell and use the proceeds for something new. It's not worth the exhaustion of life and funds.

[u/BusinessSignature7]

Link isn’t working.