Who owns the Riddle house...? - Likely Candidates

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 127207


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "greenfirespike" <feenyjam at m...>
wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> Steve/bboyminn says:
> 
> >  
> > When Tom killed his father and grandparents, as far as we know, he
> > wiped out the House of Riddle. So who inherited the house, land, 
> > and> money? It had to go somewhere. ...
> > 


> Greenfirespike:
> 
> ..edited...
> 
> With the Riddles having already disinherited young Thomas (or is it 
> just plain Tom?), I see no reason that a will was not created, and 
> left the property to Frank.  Frank, being the Riddles loyal friend, 
> may have become owner of the Riddle house.
> 


bboyminn:

First, we don't know that the Riddle officially and legally
disinherited Young Tom Jr. We can be reasonably sure they ignored him,
probably denied him, maybe even disavowed him, perhaps disowned him,
but disinherit is a legal matter.

To my way of thinking they would have had to create a Will that
specifically said, young Tom Jr gets nothing. And, I'm not convinced
they went that far. As far as a Will in general, I'm sure the senior
Riddles assumed Tom Sr would inherit everything and carry on the
family name. With a clearcut indisputable heir, Tom Sr, available, he
would get everything by default. The only need for a Will would be to
add inclusions for Cousin Millie, and any exclusions for someone like
Tom Jr. Not saying that couldn't happen, just saying I don't think it
did. They had a clearcut indisputable heir in Tom Sr, and I'm sure
they assumed he would out live them. Certainly they never dream of a
possibility in which all three would die at the same time. 

Even if there was a will disinheriting Tom Jr, if we assume no other
real close relatives; it reasonable that Tom Jr would have had ground
to contest the Will. Who has a greater right of inheritance, an
obscure cousin here and there, or the son of Tom Sr himself. In
addition, in the absents of other children, Tom Jr, from a legal
perspective, is the only person who is able to carry on the House of
Riddle, the bloodline and Family name. Can't say he would definitely
win, on that he certainly has legal ground for appeal.

> Greenfirespike continues:
>
> This theory would explain a few things; such as why Frank never
> moved  into the house, because he felt awkward about the generous 
> gift from  the Riddles. ...
> 
> Just throwing it out there and seeing if any of it sticks.
> 
> Greenfirespike

bboyminn:

Well, it might stick, but I think is more likely slowly sliding down
the wall. One small flaw in this theory, the books specifically state
that the house was sold a few times, then some rich guy bought it and
kept it solely for 'tax purposes'. That seems to rule out Frank. 

Though, I will admit that it is possible to concoct a scenario in
which Frank is the rich guy who now keeps it for tax purposes. He may
have inherited, sold, bought, and resold, then finally given up, and
bought it and kept it. Then lived on as the caretaker, content to live
a quiet modest life. While that scenario could be created, I
personally don't think so. It has a logical flow, but I think it
reaches way too far off-page to make its case.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn