OOP: Sirius' House - Harry??????

[catherinemckiernan]

No: HPFGUIDX 63559

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "medeacallous"
<medeacallous at y...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Sayuri" <sayuri_tama at h...> 
> wrote:
> 
> <snip>
> 
> > > In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dimercury7" <thorn360 at y...> 
> wrote:
> > > > But I wonder if J.K 
> > > > Rowling is going to station the Order of the Phoenix [somewhere
> > > other than Sirius' house], like 
> > > > at Hogwarts? Any thoughts? 
> > > 
> > 
> > Just quick theory: I think that Sirius's house will pass on to 
> Harry
> > (being Sirius's godson, and presumably the first person Sirius 
> would
> > will it to). I also think that the Order will continue to be 
> stationed
> > there, due to all the protections placed on the house. 
> > 
> > Sayuri
> 
> 
> I'd love it if that happened, but it's not likely, IMO.  First, when 
> could Sirius will it to Harry?  I don't know how the wizarding world 
> works, but in the Muggle world, wills need to be witnessed, but 
> anyone who witnessed a will written by Sirius after his escape would 
> be proof that he was being helped to flee justice, which could be 
> trouble for whomever witnessed it.
> 
> Would he have willed it to Harry before Azkaban?  Possible, but 
> unlikely.  My husband is an estate lawyer, and he knows numerous 40-
> something men with children who don't have wills - it's a lot to ask 
> that Sirius (knowing his personality) would have sat down with the 
> family lawyer after Harry's birth and written his will.
> 
> But more importantly, in British Wizarding Society, bloodlines, 
> blood ties and tradition seem extremely important.  I've read, and I 
> agree, that it mirrors the Victorian era or something like.  Based 
> on the mores of traditional societies, it would be pretty much 
> unheard of for a family member to will an entire family estate to a 
> non-relative (yes, I know they're all related, the pervy inbreeders, 
> but you know what I mean).  There seem to be cousins currently 
> living, so the estate *should* go to them.
> 
> Considering that SB left home early and disavowed his family ties, 
> it might also be that his father commuted his statutory obligation 
> to Sirius by placing the estate in trust - perhaps to pass on to 
> Sirius's offspring, or another family member if Sirius has no child.
> 
> MC

Who knows? I don't think Sirius-the-fugitive would necessarily be a
problem. Moody, for example, is not going to let it stand in the way
of making sure the Death Eaters don't get their grubby hands on the
house. 
I really hope that Sirius left a will, leaving everything either to
Harry or, Harry really not needing the money, to Lupin, who definitely
does. If he died intestate (and he didn't have the house under some
trust), then the MoM presumably administers his estate. Under English
and Welsh law, which the MoM might follow at least a bit, the estate
would go to surviving uncles and aunts, if there are any left, as we
know Sirius has no closer surviving relatives. If those uncles and
aunts have pre-deceased their children, then the children get the
share that would have belonged to the uncles and aunts. So let's hope
Sirius made a will, or there's a handy little windfall going not only
to the Tonks family, but the Malfoys and Lestranges! 

Maybe the Order had better start packing. They can leave the
Hippogriff debris behind, though! 

Catherine McK