• Brother claiming share in my property

Hello sir, Me and my wife has jointly purchased an house in 2024 where we both have 50% share each.
Now at the time of purchase my brother transferred some amount in my bank account just as assistance in the purchase and after the sale was done I transferred the half of that amount back to his account (parents agreed to pay the remaining amount to him )
Now he is claiming a share in the property because of the amount he transferred although there is no agreement stating anything like this. Please advise if his claim in maintainable in the court ?
Asked 9 months ago in Property Law
Religion: Hindu

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16 Answers

Return balance amount paid by brother with interest at 9 per cent 

 

if you have repaid money advanced by brother he has no share in the property 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

He can file declaratory suit that he has share in property as part of same consideration was paid by him 

 

property was bought in your name and wife name for benefit of joint family 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

1. Just because your brother had transferred some amount to your account, at the time of purchase of property, does not create any interest in the property as his.

2.  Since there's no agreement between you and your brother, stating that your brother will have a share in the property, there's no provision in law for your brother to stake a claim in the jointly owned property of yours. 

Shashidhar S. Sastry
Advocate, Bangalore
5623 Answers
339 Consultations

Dear Client,

Your brother's claim for a share in the property is likely very weak if there is very little, if any, writing or oral agreement indicative of the funds provided being an investment for an ownership interest. The fact that you returned half of the money transferred and the acknowledgment from your parents to settle the rest is a good indication that this money was simply meant as financial assistance and not as consideration for any share in the property. His claim may not survive in the courts, given that there seems to be no evidence, however strong or weak, of an implied trust, a gift, or a contractual obligation resting on your shoulders. All that needs to be done now is to preserve all bank records, communications, and papers regarding these transactions. I recommend that you contact a property lawyer to review the matter and effectively protect your rights.

Hope this helps. Feel free to inquire for any legal query.

 

Anik Miu
Advocate, Bangalore
11014 Answers
125 Consultations

  1. Hindu of law regarding property is to a large extent is not codified, it is still governed by law stated in Shastras and cased decided by Courts. In Periannan’s property worth 5L was purchased with contribution of 50K from family member, said property was held to joint property.
  2. In Mangal Singh’s it was held that if a person takes aid of any portion of joint family however small it may be it will treated as joint family. But there are contrary judgments also.
  3. In your case it is not stated as to how much money were transferred by brother.
  4. There is no need for any agreement between family members, everything is done through word or mouth.

Ravi Shinde
Advocate, Hyderabad
5125 Answers
42 Consultations

He can claim share in proportion of money invested by him 

 

if wife has contributed 50 per cent she has 50 percent share in property 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

1. There is no time limit for claiming share in the joint property. That is the law. 

2. 50 % of wife's share may remain with wife. 

Ravi Shinde
Advocate, Hyderabad
5125 Answers
42 Consultations

You can refuse to give any share in your property. If he is demanding his amount you can arrange to return the balance amount.

You can challenge the case on merits and with the support of documentary evidences if he is planning to take it up legally.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

If he is claiming a share based on the amount he had lent, then it is he who has to prove it, you can always say that you have returned half of it and you are ready to return the balance too.

 

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

Your brother's claim is not maintainable besides there was no contract or agreement between you both

Also the time limit is three years from the date of returning half the amount to make the claim for money maintainable.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations

He can claim 50 percent share in property. He can file a suit if he has made 100 percent payment in property and your are just name sale owner

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

He cannot claim all your share 

 

if you have repaid half of loan he can only claim share on basis of amount invested by him 

 

burden of proof is upon him to prove money was given for purchase of property 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
99775 Answers
8145 Consultations

If he proves in court that the source of funds were his and your haven’t returned it and it was purchased on your name sake only. You have option to just return his money if suit is filed by him

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
34514 Answers
249 Consultations

- Since, the said house is registered in the joint names of you and your wife , then none having right to claim any right that house , even contributed financially. 

- Your brother cannot claim any share in the property /house even after filing a case before the Court. 

- Further, if there is no agreement was executed for the said payment by your brother , then he cannot get any share in the property. 

- However, if he has paid the said amount online mode, then he can claim the amount from you on the ground of loan. 

- He can claim the amount within 3 years from the date of payment. 

- No, he cannot claim any share even on your part. 

Mohammed Shahzad
Advocate, Delhi
15814 Answers
242 Consultations

Don't get confused by reading too many answers.

There's no rights for your brother in the property you jointly own with your wife.

If at all he makes a claim then he can do it only for the money he lent.

There was no agreement nor a contract between you both in this regard.

He had given you money which was returned to him to the extent of 50% 

If he's got any claim for return of money he should make it within three years from the date of your latest payment.

There is nothing beyond this hence you may better don't be perplexed by reading too many opinions.

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
89977 Answers
2492 Consultations


Legal Position on Brother’s Claim to Property

  1. No Legal Ownership Without Agreement

    • Since the property is jointly owned by you and your wife (50% each), and no written agreement exists stating your brother's contribution as ownership, his claim is weak.
    • Mere bank transfers do not establish ownership unless a contract or proof of agreement exists.

  2. Partial Repayment & Outstanding Amount

    • Since you repaid half of the amount and the remaining was to be paid by parents, it was a financial assistance, not an investment.
    • If no written acknowledgment states the remaining amount is for ownership, his claim is not strong.

  3. Time Limit for Filing Suit

    • Under Limitation Act, 1963, for money recovery, your brother has 3 years from the date of transfer or demand for repayment.
    • For property claims, if he argues it as a benami transaction, the case will likely fail because the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, 1988, prohibits such claims.

  4. Can He Claim a Share in Your Wife’s 50%?

    • No, since the money was transferred to your account only, he has no claim over your wife's share.
    • If he claims ownership in your 50%, he must prove the transfer was for property investment and not assistance.

  5. How Can He Prove His Claim?

    • He must show clear evidence (written communication, agreement, or acknowledgment) stating that the money was for co-ownership.
    • If he cannot prove this, his case is unlikely to succeed.

  6. Your Defense:

    • Show that you repaid half and the remaining was agreed to be paid by parents, proving it was a loan/help.
    • There was no intent of ownership transfer to your brother.


Conclusion:


His claim is not legally maintainable without evidence. You can return the remaining amount to avoid litigation, but legally, he cannot claim property ownership based on a mere bank transfer.

For detailed, personalized advice, consider a phone consultancy. Hope you find the information helpful. You are free to contact me for further discussion. If you could spare two minutes of your time to write a review, it would be greatly appreciated and bring immense happiness to read it. Thank you. Shubham Goyal.

Shubham Goyal
Advocate, Delhi
2070 Answers
14 Consultations

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