Right, so I need help finding legal help for my uncle, like today...

[Akoto]

So, it's sad that I have to make a post like this at all, much less entangled in unnecessary family drama. Such is life and I'm only so good of an investigator.

My uncle (mom's brother) is a disabled individual who is unable to read, so I'm trying to get some emergency legal or social help for him. All of the HUD offices in Florida seem not to be taking calls, and it's Friday, so... The last thing I can think of is a lawyer concerning the area of the problem, which we'd be happy to find.

Long story short, he lived with my aunt (but they were not officially married) for many, many years and she went in to replace a knee which had been removed prior. Things went horribly wrong, she went into a coma, and she has passed as of today. Unfortunately, we don't get the proper time to mourn.

Her daughters and their accomplices have been harassing my uncle to get out of the trailer home they lived in, which my aunt owned, since before she even passed. They believe they are going to inherit it and they're out for money. She did sign the trailer over to my uncle, but it was after they moved her into hospice, so it may not be applicable. He's had his tires slashed, he's had threatening phone calls that he'd better watch out if anything happens to his late partner, and the daughters have posted slanderous stuff about him on Facebook (which they've since removed, but the internet is forever - maybe the Wayback Machine can find them).

Today, they sent him letters notifying him that he had to be out by the end of thirty days from the date of the letter. They dated the letters the 1st to make it look like they'd given him the time, but brilliantly sent one of them certified, showing it was dated way after that.

We really just need someone to talk to about legal questions, or about emergency housing options, and preferably today even though it's the weekend. He lives in Florida, in Barefoot Bay, which I believe is a part of Indian River County. The statewide HUD number, much like all the other HUD numbers we've been calling recently, has no agents to answer. Might be shut down? I don't know.

I think a lawyer with specialty in this area to help us/him with advice would be great. If that's you, I would be grateful for a PM. I'd like to think her signing the house over plus all of the harassment, slander, and vandalism he's endured since might keep him under his roof or at least under an emergency roof. If anyone can find anybody to call, or if you're a lawyer in FL and may be inclined to help, I'd be so grateful. He has nothing and it's so shameful that my aunt's kids swooped in before she was even dead to try and drive him out, all for a trailer they're going to get next to nothing selling.

Thanks, guys.

[SheltieLover]

1. Have you tried adult protective services?

https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/adult-protective-services/

Also, possibly police might help? They might be willing to call the daughters & tell them to cool it.

Deepest condolences on your aunt's passing.

[Akoto]

4. He did call the cops, but no luck right now...

They talked to him, but he'd repaired the slashed tires and they've tried to cover up by deleting the slanderous Facebook posts. No idea who the guy calling and threatening him was. So, the cops said if they can't see it, they unfortunately can't do anything and to call if it happens again.

One of them did suggest (probably off the record) that he claim squatter's rights to buy himself more time, as it would make it more difficult to just throw him out of what has long been his home with my late aunt.

[SheltieLover]

7. Did you try protective services?

Sorry cops couldn't help.

I'm not a lawyer, but it seems to me her kids should not be harassing him in any way. Legally, they are nothing to him, right?

Not sure abput squatters rights.

Check with attorney first.

Does he have friends he can stay with for a bit?

[Tetrachloride]

2. Try a police officer, especially if you suspect a felony.

especially the list of abuse categories.

type it up quick and make the call


my 2 cents

[Akoto]

5. See reply above about contact with the cops, but thanks... n/t

[demmiblue]

3. K&R in hopes that someone can help you.

[mercuryblues]

6. I am sorry that you are going through this

Her daughters are real pieces of work.

I am not a lawyer but this is where I would start,

Watch their social media and get screen shots of it.

Notify the police of the vandalism and let them know what is going on.

Change the locks on the doors

On the day of the funeral have a friend house sit for him, so the daughters can't get in then.


Check Florida laws for common law marriage

[SheltieLover]

8. Yes!!!!!

[Akoto]

11. Sadly, he's called the cops and they say they can't help since they can't see what was done...

They've cleaned up their Facebook pages (though I'm sure cached copies could recover the messages) and my uncle unfortunately repaired the slashed tires before the police could see them. Not much they can evidently do about the threatening call. One of the cops suggested he claim squatter's rights to buy time.

There is no common law marriage in FL, or it would definitely apply to them, as long as they've been together. It's such a shame.

[mercuryblues]

14. It starts a paper trail

if a restraint order is wanted/needed

[SheltieLover]

16. Did police make a formal report?

Get a copy!

He might need to go before judge for order of protection.

Pls keep an eye on their soc media & screenshot anything of interest. (Search for snip tool.)

[femmedem]

9. I'm so sorry for your loss and the danger your uncle is in.

Do you have a decent congressional representative? Mine has great constituent services.
Our city has a social services coordinator as well.
If you have either, that could be a place to start.

Also, you might try Three Rivers Legal Services, a pro bono Florida legal services organization for low income Florida residents: https://www.trls.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4q7mo7-lIDz5mnK7k3GekYQkGXoBGbRQnP6G3x4BpbYmdTfKoGPOaAaAhVgEALw_wcB

I am so sorry you have to deal with this while you grieve--and so glad your uncle has you to look out for him.

[Akoto]

12. Thanks so much, I'll look into this... n/t

[BlackSkimmer]

10. Try the county social services tomorrow.

Salvation Army is very good at helping with emergency housing, but you can start with social services. Good luck!

[Ritabert]

13. Try calling the law offices of Clay Morgan in Melbourne

If he can't help he may know somebody who can. Very reputable and deals in all sorts of law including inheritance and estate issues. The website says Morgan & Barbary is open tomorrow at 8:30 AM. Melbourne's the closest city to Barefoot Bay.

[SheltieLover]

15. Lini to legal aid

https://www.fljc.org/legal-representation/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4pUuhKlEy5SIz-gPvFhvmBd37G0HHk3RwMaL5YIGlhhEuacv-92gdwaAnvMEALw_wcB

[SheltieLover]

17. Lutheran Social Services elder abuse web link

They are huge in social services, much like Catholic Charities.

https://www.lsfnet.org/preventing-the-financial-exploitation-of-seniors/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4pXutVZbFIi-cwEW7kPY1p6-CdkOEU2DMgbKIpMHe_ucOQuZiLWUmAaAmYFEALw_wcB

[SheltieLover]

18. Disability Rights FL site

https://disabilityrightsflorida.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAraSPBhDuARIsAM3Js4rDmEuVp-1lrvkjR_1YARdJnxFi8mLJLrcbmSQc6-MFD5dA5SrC17saAtALEALw_wcB

You never know who ypu talk to that might know someone who can help! Ask for referrals if agency can't help directly.

[SheltieLover]

19. National Adult Protective Services for Financial Exploitation 9f Elderly

https://www.napsa-now.org/get-informed/exploitation-resources/

[Fla Dem]

20. Google Senior Services Indian County. You still have tomorrow. Today's Thursday.

Senior Resource Association
772.569.0760
https://www.seniorresourceassociation.org/services/information-and-referral/#:~:text=The%20Guide%20to%20Senior%20Services,and%20the%20Vero%20Beach%20Community

Senior Collaborative is a non-profit organization that navigates seniors, at no charge, to providers & services in Indian River County, FL. Let us help you by calling 772-469-2270
https://www.seniorservicesirc.org/


This is just a couple. Others are listed. They may not provide the exact help you need, but may be able to offer some referrals.

Good luck

[SheltieLover]

21. Fl dept of elder affairs - 24/7 phone line!

https://www.elderneedslaw.com/articles/elder-abuse-neglect-and-financial-exploitation

To report elder abuse by phone, call the Florida Department of Elder Affairs 24/7 at 1.800.962.2873 (800.96.ABUSE). Press 2 to report suspected neglect, exploitation, or abuse of the elderly.

To report elder abuse online, click "Report Abuse Online NOW"

[Desert grandma]

22. You can also try ARAG Legal

www.araglegal.com It is a legal service program that actually has some decent attorneys . It is a $99 membership fee and they can refer you to an attorney in their program. We had this service as a benefit at my last job, and it was very helpful. Many things are handled for free or for a copay. More complex cases are handled for a 25 percent discount. I do not believe that Florida recognizes Common Law Marriage, but perhaps there is another legal avenue that can be utilized. Good luck!

[SheltieLover]

23. States attorney elder abuse site

https://www.sao7.com/elder-abuse/index

[vanlassie]

24. Change locks immediately. Do not leave this home.

Maybe help with a video cam.

[Ritabert]

25. They may be watching the trailer for him to leave

He needs to stay there or get a trusted friend to stay if he has to leave.

[Akoto]

26. Thank you for the help and references, everyone. It was not a good evening.

Somehow, the daughters and co got wind that my uncle was selling some things in the newspaper. They were his things, mind you. He's trying to clear out for the now obvious inevitable that he'll have to move, plus he's disabled and no longer has the support of his partner.

Next thing you know, the daughters are at the house along with their "beat you up" backup in their pickups, yelling that he had the nerve to sell their mother's things not a day after she was dead. Wisely, he called the cops. Four showed up and mediated the situation, at the end of which they told the daughters and co to leave and not come back.

The cops assured my uncle that the papers they had mailed him as notice of eviction were not valid, they hadn't been notarized nor had signed witnesses. They also knew what the daughters were left and that my uncle had not sold any of that.

The cops have been very kind to him and I believe they're on his side, but their hands are tied by policy. They told him that the daughters and their friends would be back, so that he needed to do what he could on the double to find somewhere to go, so that he could relocate his bedroom furniture and other personal belongings before it ended up seized in there with them.

There's a paper trail about the harassment and all that, and now the cops have seen an example of how the kids are conducting this, but it appears to just be what it is. Hopefully, one of these numbers or a DU lawyer can contact me to advise. He's disabled and has SSI, and I could've sworn that one could get an emergency HUD voucher but can't find info.

[csziggy]

27. To locate an attorney, try The Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys

https://afela.org/

Or the Florida Bar: https://lrs.floridabar.org/ (They used to let you search for an attorney in specific areas of law, now you have to fill out a form and they contact you.)

Florida does have a strong elder care agency which you have been referred to. I'd start there but he does probably need legal help.