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Insight Horizon Media

Can you refuse to inherit a timeshare

Author

Daniel Rodriguez

Published Apr 28, 2026

If you are either left a timeshare in a will or are the legal heir of someone who owned a timeshare and died without a will, you may choose to refuse to accept your inheritance. In legal terms, this is generally called “renunciation of property.”

Do I have to accept an inherited timeshare?

If you die owning a timeshare, it does become part of your estate and obligations are indeed passed onto the next-of-kin or the estate’s beneficiaries. However, they do not have to accept it, in the same way that anyone has the right to refuse any part of an inheritance.

Can I give my timeshare back to the resort?

The resort is not legally obligated to take a timeshare back from you. If you can’t find a willing owner to take over your unit, you’ll have to put your case to the property’s manager. … Your other option is to try to give the property to someone else or sell it for whatever you can get.

Can I disclaim an inherited timeshare?

You can’t legally disclaim a timeshare that you’ve used to benefit yourself after an inheritance. You can’t even vacation there, “just to check it out.” Otherwise you might be paying those maintenance fees until you yourself will the property.

Does a timeshare go through probate?

Once the owner of a timeshare dies, the timeshare is now subject to probate. Having a will doesn’t avoid probate, but rather, it instructs legally how the assets (such as the timeshare) should be distributed.

Can you just walk away from a timeshare?

You can’t just walk away from a timeshare. … If you don’t stay current on your maintenance fees or your loan payment, the timeshare company or timeshare association could report you to a collection agency and ding your credit score.

What happens when the owner of a timeshare dies?

When the owner dies, the timeshare becomes part of the estate. The inheritors of the timeshare become the new owners, and they are obligated to take over the timeshare fees. … A trust gives heirs the option to decide to keep the timeshare, sell it, or abandon it. It frees them of ongoing or unpaid fees.

What happens if I don't pay timeshare maintenance fees?

Deeded timeshares are a real estate property in which the buyer obtains a deed. Maintenance fees are part of the purchase contract. Failure to pay the maintenance fees results in the resort foreclosing on the property and selling it at auction to recover money owed. You may face a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure.

Do timeshare companies take legal action?

The short answer? Yes. Resort developers can and do take financial and legal action against timeshare owners attempting to leave their interest. However, they may not pursue these strategies as aggressively as some consumers may think.

How do I get out of my timeshare?
  1. Check Your Timeshare Contract. Many timeshare contracts contain a retraction or rescission period. …
  2. See if the Company Will Buy it Back. …
  3. See if the Company Will Take it Back for Free. …
  4. Sell Your Timeshare. …
  5. Give Your Timeshare Away. …
  6. You’re Stuck With One Company. …
  7. You May Not Use It. …
  8. They Cost a LOT.
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How do I legally return a timeshare?

  1. Exit Within the Grace Period. If you don’t want to have to learn how to sell a timeshare legally down the line, this is often your best course of action. …
  2. Find a Possible Breach of Contract. …
  3. Return the Timeshare. …
  4. Sell Your Timeshare. …
  5. Contact a Timeshare Attorney.

How do you sell a timeshare that is paid off?

  1. Step 1: Revisit Your Contract. To start with, dig your original contract—and any other paperwork about the timeshare—out of your files to see exactly what you signed way back when. …
  2. Step 2: Research Your Timeshare’s Value. …
  3. Step 3: Try to Sell Your Timeshare. …
  4. Step 4: Contact a Timeshare Exit Company.

How do I surrender my timeshare ownership?

  1. Stop paying. Before you do this, take stock of your situation. …
  2. Offer it on the resale market. …
  3. Use a company to help you exit.

How do I get out of a deceased timeshare parent?

To get rid of a timeshare you’ve already inherited, you may have a few options. You can sell the property, transfer the property or work with a timeshare cancellation company like EZ Exit Now to get out of your timeshare.

Is a timeshare real estate?

Deeded timeshares are considered real estate not personal property. … You maintain partial ownership and equity in the property, which you share with the other timeshare owners. You must pay maintenance fees, insurance, and property taxes on your timeshare as part of the contract.

Is a timeshare considered an asset?

A timeshare is not an investment, it’s a vacation. It’s also an illiquid asset that is likely to lose value over time. Ultimately, timeshares are like swimming pools, if you buy one, do so because you love the idea of owning it, not because you expect to make a profit.

What is the average cost to get out of a timeshare?

Costs to Get Out of a Timeshare On average, it costs about $5,000 to $6,000 and takes 12–18 months to get out of your timeshare contract using a timeshare exit company. But the cost and the timeframe can vary depending on a number of factors including, how many contracts are attached to your timeshare.

How do you write a letter to cancel a timeshare?

  1. Your name and contact information.
  2. The name of your timeshare company.
  3. The contract number.
  4. The names on the timeshare contract.
  5. The date of purchase.
  6. A statement of cancellation.
  7. The amount you paid, including a request that this amount be returned to you.

What happens if timeshare is destroyed?

At severely damaged resorts, the homeowner association boards may choose, instead, to terminate the timeshare and sell the property assets. The resort’s insurance may not cover all damages from the storm. Most policies come with deductibles and co-pays that resorts must pay from reserve funds.

Can a timeshare put a lien on your house?

If a repayment plan isn’t negotiated, the timeshare company might go the route of taking you to court for breach of contract to get a judgment against you and place a lien against the property. Ultimately, they will foreclose on the property.

Can I sue a timeshare?

If you’ve been the victim of timeshare fraud, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the company who sold you the timeshare. Around 17% of timeshare owners are unhappy with their purchase. Some owners might just be unsatisfied with the fees they’re paying, which have risen around 5% per year since 2010 .

Why is it so hard to get out of a timeshare?

Another reason why it’s so difficult to cancel your timeshare is that there are limited alternatives available. … Also, timeshare companies make it incredibly difficult for owners to sell their properties. Resort officials want owners who make payments on time.

Is it hard to sell a timeshare?

IT IS NOT SIMPLE, OR EASY TO SELL A TIMESHARE REGARDLESS OF WHAT SOME PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU (usually right before they ask for your credit card information) but it can be done if you take the time to research the resale market and know ahead of time how to spot and avoid the scams!

How much do lawyers charge to get out of a timeshare?

Timeshare Exit Companies that Work with Lawyers. $4,000 – $15,000. If you owe a mortgage on the timeshare, the fee can go up considerably. Although this can be an effective way to get rid of your timeshare, it’s usually the most expensive option.

How long do you have to cancel a timeshare?

So, if you wish to cancel your resort timeshare purchase, you generally have a period of 5-15 days after purchase wherein you may legally rescind the contract. After the rescission period has expired, you can no longer cancel your purchase without penalty.

How can I sell my timeshare without getting scammed?

  1. Do your homework, using the Internet. …
  2. Don’t give information about yourself to any company that calls you, blind, to help you get out of your timeshare or maintenance fees. …
  3. Don’t agree to pay large “up-front” fees to a timeshare resale company that offers to help sell your timeshare.

Why is a timeshare bad?

One of the biggest problems with timeshares is that there typically is no easy exit. Those annual fees and special assessments are due as long as you own the timeshare. You may not be able to find a buyer if money is tight or you’re no longer able to use it.