What you’re describing sounds like a threat or coercion, and the legality is very specific. Let’s break it down carefully.
- Joint ownership of the house:
- If you own the house jointly (as “joint tenants” or “tenants in common”), one party cannot unilaterally take the house or threaten to withhold your share without following legal processes (e.g., court orders or a formal sale).
- Threatening to “get nothing” if you don’t comply with demands over jointly owned property is not a lawful way to enforce any claim.
- Threats over personal property (car, dog):
- If the car and dog are legally in the other person’s name or jointly owned, threatening to withhold them in exchange for dropping court cases can be considered coercion or extortion.
- In Spain, the UK, and many jurisdictions, solicitors cannot legally issue a letter threatening someone into giving property. Solicitors’ letters must be professional, factual, and assert legal rights, not make illegal threats.
- What is legal:
- A solicitor can write a letter outlining your legal position, saying what you are entitled to under property law or court proceedings.
- They can request actions (e.g., mediation, property division) but cannot lawfully threaten to harm your interests unlawfully if you don’t comply.
- Potential red flags:
- Any letter that says “give me the car and the dog or you get nothing” sounds like an attempt to force you to give up rights by intimidation. This is not legally enforceable and could itself be a criminal act.
✅ Advice:
- Do not respond under pressure.
- Keep a copy of the letter and consult your own solicitor immediately—especially one familiar with joint property and family law in your jurisdiction.
- If this is happening in Spain, it could also fall under laws against coercion, threats, or intimidation in civil or criminal law.
