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Dear Annie: Back in the 1960s, my father inherited some land with houses on it from his uncle who raised him. For some reason, he let his sister, my aunt, and her family move into one of the houses rent-free.
In 2002, my father died. My sister, my brother and I inherited the property. I bought my brother and sister out at an agreed price. My aunt continued to live there and repeated often that my father’s will stated she could live there for free.
After eight or nine years of doubt, I went to probate court. It turns out the will did not say this. So I started charging my aunt rent. My whole family got upset about this. I have not spoken to my sister ever since. As far as I am concerned, my aunt owes me about $35,000.
My aunt is not poor. Just like my family, she was a penny pincher. I am a Christian, but I just cannot think of having anything to do with somebody who would pull a stunt like this. How do you feel?
— Crooked Relatives
Dear Crooked Relatives: Legally, your aunt has no right to live on your property without paying rent. Remaining on your land without permission constitutes trespassing. Relaying this to your aunt may be enough to get her to start paying.
However, you might also want to consider the arguments of your family. Think how hard it must be for your aunt to leave the land that ties her to her dead brother, land on which she’s been living for decades. Maybe you have it in your heart to negotiate a deal with your aunt — charging her rent that is well below the market rate. And please, get it out of your head that she owes you $35,000 for back rent, especially when your father refused to charge her anything.
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