Hi there

We live in South Africa. We lived in Johannesburg for a long time and decided to relocate back to Port Elizabeth where we are staying with my mother in law. My husband and his sister decided it would be a good idea to extend the outbuildings into a house for us. My problem is that the property belongs to my mother in law and in the event of her death it gets divided equally between my husband, his two sisters and his brother but if we build here and he should die before or even after her death what becomes of myself and the kids as this is both of our second marriages and we both have kids from our previous relationships. Can they kick me out? Do I need a contract before we build to cover myself??

I will have to say this in general, since I have little direct knowledge of that exact area law. But one should always have all agreements in writing, and it needs to be done according to the requirements of your area. I would have it all done though a local legal firm.