All Forum Posts by: Kevin Yeats

What does the divorce decree say in regards to the ownership of the home?

Is the job chage for the better or for the worst ... fomr your tenant's perspective? Will she make more money or less?

You have some good advice here.

I would abide by the current lease for this month. Charge late fees if that is in the current lease.

Have both of you signed a new lease for the next year? If not, go month to month and let the tenant know that you evict at the first opportunity ... meaning paying full rent anytime past the 5th of the month or whatever is in the lease.

Good Luck.

L T,

The juvenile petty criminals stole from you. If this was a tenant in a rental unit and skipped on the last month's rent, would you track them down?

I understand your fear of retaliation but if you don't pursue this in one way or another, you condone their behavior. Even if the bad kid continues his criminal ways, the others may learn a lesson.

If I were in your shoes, I'd have a converstation with the police on the best way to pursue this. Would you be happy if the kids (or parents) make restitution ONLY? Do you want to pursue this as a criminal matter since your contractor already reported it and the individuals are identified? At what loss would you definately pursue criminal charges?

Find a friendly cop and have a talk.

Last I checked, taxes are Irrevocable too.

I agree with Vikram on several points. Just like any tool, if used correctly, ITs can accomplish your goal better than other tools. Used incorrectly and several more lawyers have new clients.

Please consult a qualified professional (Disclaimer: I am not but have likewaise spoken to several - lawyers, accountants and financial pros). The Estate Planning attorneys have a network that both keeps its members informed of the latest changes and allows for referrals to attorneys in other geographic areas.

Bryan, I can refer you to a couple of good ones in Dallas. Just ask.

I hope th judge orders restitution to you for the door and required new locks and anything else they stole/broke.

Sometimes when kids get caught doing something like this early, they learn the hard lesson and never do it again.

Some minors kids (16 & 17_ broke into my car and several others. The police caught them in the act. The oldest had finished high school and had a scholarship to a small college. The judge deferred sentencing him until he finished college UNLESS he didn't keep up his grades and lost his scholarship. I guess that is incentive. I was happy with the sentence and I hope the kid learned his lesson.

Bryan, my point in suggesting that you allow reasonable amount of time for her to move her things is to leave the situation with no worse feeling on either side. No more money out of your pocket or time out of your day after moving day. No phone calls from her claiming that you damaged her stuff when you moved it outside (Obviously Mike doesn't care about that). No claims from her that you lost or broke her kids toys or her family portrait.

Three hours should be sufficient for any moving crew to move items out of an apartment even if not granted access before moving day.

Do you want her to call you at 4 AM from a pay phone just to harass you?

If I were in your shoes, and given that it is summer, I would give her from 9 AM to Noon to move her stuff out of the apartment. At noon the door is shut and locked and she is no longer granted access. Period. Tell her this both when setting the appointment and the day of the move. At 12:15 PM painters start on the walls, etc.

Even if she is scum and didn't pay rent for months, just get her out of your life so you don't have to contact her and she doesn't have to contact you.

Good Luck

If I were in your shoes. my goal would be to have this tenant out and gone forever. No more hassles or phone calls from her over items left behind. Or midnight calls from unknown callers.

Done, gone, mistake put behind you. Lessons learned. Over.

To that end, coordinate with her for a sufficient window of time for her to remove her items from that apartment even if that means she has to move it to the lawn. I suggest at least 3 hours. At the end of that window of time, tell her that you are locking the door permanently regardless of what is left inside. Tell her to make sure she has the help and the moving vans needed to complete the task in that time.

On moving day, remind her of the door lock time.

I also recommend not assisting her lest she accuse you of damaging her property.

Good Luck

*Temperature* aka hot "hot" these goods are would be my biggest concern.

Also, it will cost you at least $200 in gas to go pick these items up. Probably a hotel room as well. Are you getting that good of a deal that you are not getting closer to home?

Bev,

You are soooo right. I apologize for thinking only of money.

Hey, I cut my finger. I guess I don't have to pay any bills now.

My point, which Bev actually emphasizes, is that she has been down this road before (cancer treatments twice). She should have taken steps to take care of all future possibilities when she knew that she would need further treatments.

But I guess as long as some one has a severe enough ailment, that person is relieved of responsibilities. I'm sure that is what the tenant told the hospital and the doctors and nurses and everyone else treating her. "I have cancer. Treat me but I don't have to pay."

I have compassion for her and others in her position. It stops at my wallet. If you disagree, get a doctor ... any doctor ... to treat you for free.