My sister doesn't want to allow my mom to come back home, because she is not going to take care of her. She was asked to leave in January, but to avail she hasn't. My older sister has been keeping my mom since November of last year and she is having caregiver burnout.
What is the plan for mom's care if and when she returns home ? Will she accept hired caregivers into her house ? Can she afford to hire caregivers ?
I think other comments on your mothers care should be addressed. As your mother gets older, she is going to go down hill even more and need more help.
Legal stuff needs to be addressed. Ask her why she won't take care of the legal paperwork. Is it money? Afraid of losing control and having her kids put her in a (God forbid) "Home"? At least ask her if she wants to be put on machines. This morning I can't think of the terminology.
I don't envy your family. I think to most of us, who are not emotionally involved, she has already reached the stage where she needs to be in assisted living at best. You will eventually come to that decision also. My daughter has had to do it with her father, and I hope when my time comes, I won't be a burden to my kids. Personally, I plan on going into assisted living and not be a burden to them.
Last thought, you and your sisters need to be sure you have your affairs in order so your kids won't have the problems you are having.
You must provide a full month WRITTEN notice to terminate. Since you cannot giver her a full month notice for a January move out..(it is already the 3rd of the month) the notice you giver her will be for a Feb 1st move out.
If she is still there on Feb 1st...you must giver her a 3 day notice to vacate or you will file for eviction for "forcible detainer" by holding over. This notice must be served properly....frankly..it is easier to hire a service processor.
If she is still there after the 3 days expires...go to court house and file for "writ of possession". In other words...eviction.
Here is the full Texas landlord/tenant statues in state law
State of Texas Eviction Law
Property Code
Sec. 91.001. Notice for Terminating Certain Tenancies.
(a) A monthly tenancy or a tenancy from month to month may be terminated by the tenant or the landlord giving notice of termination to the other.
(b) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is at least one month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:
(1) the day given in the notice for termination; or
(2) one month after the day on which the notice is given.
(c) If a notice of termination is given under Subsection (a) and if the rent-paying period is less than a month, the tenancy terminates on whichever of the following days is the later:
(1) the day given in the notice for termination; or
(2) the day following the expiration of the period beginning on the day on which notice is given and extending for a number of days equal to the number of days in the rent-paying period.
(d) If a tenancy terminates on a day that does not correspond to the beginning or end of a rent-paying period, the tenant is liable for rent only up to the date of termination.
(e) Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) do not apply if:
(1) a landlord and a tenant have agreed in an instrument signed by both parties on a different period of notice to terminate the tenancy or that no notice is required; or
(2) there is a breach of contract recognized by law.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3625, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 3, eff. Aug. 26, 1985.
Sec. 24.001. Forcible Entry and Detainer.
(a) A person commits a forcible entry and detainer if the person enters the real property of another without legal authority or by force and refuses to surrender possession on demand.
(b) For the purposes of this chapter, a forcible entry is:
(1) an entry without the consent of the person in actual possession of the property;
(2) an entry without the consent of a tenant at will or by sufferance; or
(3) an entry without the consent of a person who acquired possession by forcible entry.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3514, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.
Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 688, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Sec. 24.002. Forcible Detainer.
(a) A person who refuses to surrender possession of real property on demand commits a forcible detainer if the person:
(1) is a tenant or a subtenant wilfully and without force holding over after the termination of the tenant's right of possession;
(2) is a tenant at will or by sufferance, including an occupant at the time of foreclosure of a lien superior to the tenant's lease; or
(3) is a tenant of a person who acquired possession by forcible entry.
(b) The demand for possession must be made in writing by a person entitled to possession of the property and must comply with the requirements for notice to vacate under Section 24.005.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3514, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.
Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1985; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 688, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.
Sec. 24.003. Substitution of Parties. If a tenancy for a term expires while the tenant's suit for forcible entry is pending, the landlord may prosecute the suit in the tenant's name for the landlord's benefit and at the landlord's expense.
It is immaterial whether the tenant received possession from the landlord or became a tenant after obtaining possession of the property.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3515, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.
Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 891, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1985.
Sec. 24.004. Jurisdiction.
A justice court in the precinct in which the real property is located has jurisdiction in forcible entry and detainer and forcible detainer suits.
Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 3515, ch. 576, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1984.
Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 891, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 26, 1985.
Sec. 24.005. Notice to Vacate Prior to Filing Eviction Suit.
(a) If the occupant is a tenant under a written lease or oral rental agreement, the landlord must give a tenant who defaults or holds over beyond the end of the rental term or renewal period at least three days' written notice to vacate the premises before the landlord files
My brother sold his house in the mean time but his new home wasn't finished, our attorney made it very clear that he must pay a reasonable rent equal to the current rental rate for him to live there after my mother died. Even though the house was Mom's free and clear.
What I don't understand is why siblings do not encourage their parents to have trust and wills drawn up with a good estate attorney to advise on the rules. Yes, I know they are expensive but in the long run piece of mind and sibling in-fighting can be eliminated.
My advice is to get a good attorney. I have seen more family break up over issues just like this. SAD!
I'm just so hurt and amazed how my younger sister doesn't have a conscience towards my mom. My mom is capable of going to the bathroom, cleaning herself and walking around. She just needs supervision.
The the question to your post is, "Are you sure mother can live in her home?" Her care has defeated dedicated, conscientious family caregivers. She cannot be alone at night. It sounds to me like she now needs three shifts of trained and rested caregivers available to her. Whether that is in Assisted Living or Memory Care or a Nursing Home I don't know.
You didn't ask for that kind of advice, and you can certainly just disregard it. But many of us with lots of experience see red flags in the situation you are describing.
If your sister wants to stay in the house, then she and her husband can purchase it for fair market value.... has to be fair market value in case in the future your Mom need Medicaid to help pay for her care.
Or do you think your sister would be agreeable to pay a reasonable monthly rent... you can tell her that the rent would be used to pay for the property taxes, mortgage [if any], and for Mom's care at Assisted Living.
It also temporarily address CWillie's question of how your mother could return home. This could be a trial placement.
Your elder sister is burned out and needs a rest. A respite stay of a few months at an assisted living for your mother might be worth checking into while the eviction works it way through the system.
I know this because I lived through the same situation and had to legally evict my brother.
Let me give you an option that could be both cheaper and faster than legal eviction... a bribe. Offer her an enticing enough sum of money to move out by a certain date. Stick to the date, though. If she does not meet the deadline, there is no money at the end of the proceedings.
It might not work but it is worth a try. I offered my brother $1,000 and he even had a place to go and he stayed put. He ended up leaving some time between when the judge said he had to be out and the Sheriff actually knocking on the door.
Good luck and keep us posted.
She needs to be evicted; that's not a sarcastic answer; it's fact. She refuses to go, she presumably has no title interest in the house, and if she's changed her mailing address to your mother's, that could be considered her legal address.
So, since she won't go voluntarily, you have to evict her. That's the procedure in such a case.
You wrote she's living there fore free? Is she paying any bills? If so, you might have to have those switched as soon as the or just before the eviction to avoid loss of power when she moves. It also wouldn't hurt to have the police present on the day she moves so she doesn't destroy things. From your description, she sounds a bit unstable.
You should also ask the police if you can stop paying the bills. I'm not sure about the law in this kind of situation or in your state, so best to inquire before doing so. However, you can't be expected to pay bills when she's living there against the owner (your mother)'s wishes.
You should also be aware that if your mother refuses to sign a will, intestate (death w/o a will) laws in your state will prevail. That could include your sister, who could end up getting a portion of your mother's assets.
And w/o a POA, no one is going to be able to step in when your mother needs more assistance.
Regardless of whether she wants to sign them or not, they're not only legal, necessary but basically good common sense and protection for the future.