Harassment/Slander

[typhon]

What is the name of your state? FL

My grandmother is the owner of our home. Yet, she only pays the mortgage. This is where my family comes in. We pay for all the other expenses in the household - i.e utilities,food, etc. But, her name is on all of the bills. We pay by money order. My family and I have an agreement with my grandmother that she has happily obliged to and wouldnt want it to be any other way. WIthout my family, she would be alone in an elderly home. I have a relative that feels that she is being taken advatage of- but this is not the case. He is threatening us with letters and has recently informed us that he is "speaking with his lawyer to put us out on the street".

My question to you is, can he do this? and if so, what can I do to help get my family past this.

Thank you.

 

[quincy]

Your relative can speak with a lawyer. I am not so sure he can "put you out on the street".

How old are you? Are you employed full time? How many are in your family?

Does your grandmother claim you as dependents on her taxes? Do you claim her?

Is your grandmother healthy, both mentally and physically? Or do you need to assist with her daily living care? Get her her medicines and prepare her food? Bathe her?

Does your grandmother have a bank account that you have access to? Or does she write out the mortgage payment herself or have it withdrawn automatically from an account?

You mentioned you always pay by money order. Do you have a bank account? Do you save receipts showing your contributions - grocery and utility receipts? Can these be documented as not coming from her account but out of your income instead?

If your relative does hire an attorney out of concern for the grandmother's welfare, the attorney will want to look into your grandmother's finances, to make sure she is not supporting your entire family to her financial detriment. You should have documentation, showing your contributions to the household. If you haven't been saving receipts, I would start saving them now. When you pay by money order, get paid receipts.

You could also contact some senior living centers for information on the expenses that would be involved if the grandmother had to live in a senior home. Senior centers and nursing homes are very expensive. It also costs a lot to have even daily visits or weekly checks on your grandmother by home health service providers. You may want to check out those costs, as well. A mortgage payment, in comparison, is a small price to pay for round-the-clock care for your grandmother.

Your relative may not realize how fortunate your grandmother is to have family around her in her own home, as it more than likely saves her a lot of money, and the care and attention she receives is undoubtedly greater.

(by the way, this really isn't a defamation issue )