questions & answers

Question: My parents helped me purchase a home, they did not like who I had living there and have now "evicted" all of us and are selling the home I have been paying on i for several years. We had no written agreements and now my mother is selling it and suing me and the other parties for damages. Since she is selling the home and not repairing it, is she able to sue us for damages and unpaid "rent"?

Answer: There are a number of complicated legal issues in play here. Given that the answer to your question will depend on several factors – including the specific nature of the contractual relationship that existed between you and your parents (and whether or not you were acting as an owner or as a tenant) – you would be wise to meet privately with an attorney to discuss not only how to defend yourself from a lawsuit for damages and rent but also how to exercise any legal rights you may have to the home for which you were paying. There are links to organizations offering low-cost legal services on this website.