Dear Pay Dirt, I’m concerned about my boyfriend’s plan to buy a house together. He says we can write up documents showing what each of us contributed. I’m putting myself in a precarious financial situation. How do we convince our parents to finally sit down and do it

My boyfriend is anxious to move into a home that is more friendly to aging in place.

His philosophy is that if we’re married and he dies, I will inherit the house anyway.

If you each put down an equal amount for a down payment and contribute the same amount on the mortgage, you should share ownership.

Kids worry that their parents will die or become incapacitated, and they’ll be stuck trying to figure everything out.

Sit down with your parents and make a list of people you should contact in case of an emergency.

Ask them for the names of their bankers, doctors, financial advisors, insurance brokers, lawyers, etc. Make a contact list that you update periodically.

I asked my wife for a divorce a year ago , but we are still several months away from being able to file for divorce.

I suspect she filed for divorce just before receiving a $4 million inheritance, just so you wouldn't be able to lay claim to it.

You need to spend some time working through your communication, trust, and money issues before remarrying, with her and on your own.