Alabama lawyer gave up career to care for parents, but court upheld cancellation of her condo deed

An Alabama lawyer who left her legal career to care for her sick parents has lost her claim to part ownership of their coastal condominium. The Alabama Supreme Court upheld a decision cancelling the deed that had given her a share of the property. The court upheld a lower court ruling that voided the property transfer made in 2020. It found that state laws protecting elderly property owners take priority over the personal sacrifices family members make in exchange for property. The decision in Schumpert v. Wallace ends a legal dispute involving former lawyer Holly Schumpert. She moved to Orange Beach, Alabama, after her parents, Alton and Patsy Schumpert, became ill and offered her half ownership of their home.Abandoning practice for family dutyIn late 2020, after both her parents suffered serious health problems, Holly Schumpert closed her law practice in Tennessee, sold her house and moved to Alabama to care for them full-time. In October 2020, Alton and Patsy signed a warranty deed giving Holly a 50 per cent share of their Orange Beach condominium. The agreement was based on her promise to provide ongoing personal support and care. However, the property was already held in a fam...