money gift to son

[hazelcs]

son and his partner are wanting to buy first house, they both could afford to share mortgage if deposit paid for �30,000. If we gift son �30,000 as a deposit would his girlfriend still have automatic entitlements to half the sale of property if they were to split up? If were to buy house and let the pair pay us back the equivalent to a mortgage payment would the girl still be entitled to half the house as well as son, if at a future time they split up? (i like the girl but just wanting to know where son would stand)

[lady_p_gold]

I believe that instead of owning the property as joint tenants they could own it as tenants in common, with his share being a larger percentage i.e. 60/40 thus protecting your investment in his favour. I expect someone else will be able to explain it in a more legal fashion. Either that or maybe you could have a charge on the property, although she would still benefit from its rise in value. I think you are being wise to think of this, as there are many tales of woe on here where people do not sort these things out and your son and you could really lose out if things went pear shaped.