http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/stranger-takes-family-home-legal-article-1.1533414Stranger moves into family’s home while they are away — visiting dying relative (VIDEO)
Could you lose your home to a perfect stranger? Here's how: Robert Carr has used a so-called ‘quiet title’ to take possession of the Ohio property.
By David Harding / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Saturday, November 30, 2013, 11:08 AM
A family from Springfield, Ohio, returned home from visiting a dying relative only to find a stranger had moved into their home and changed the locks.
A family from Springfield, Ohio, returned home from visiting a dying relative only to find a stranger had moved into their home and changed the locks.
Even worse for the family, who wish to remain anonymous, the intruder may have the law on his side.
The new "owner" of the house is Robert Carr. He pounced when the family went to see their ill relative. Not only did he change the locks, he also emptied the house and produced court documents to show he was the owner, reported The Blaze website.
The papers he provided are known legally as a "quiet title", involved in situations where the property has been abandoned.
The family is moving to Pittsburgh and foreclosing on their Springfield home.
Robert Carr uses something called a quiet title to take possession of other people's homes.
An investigation by a local channel, WLWT-TV, found at least a dozen similar cases involving Carr.
Speaking to the news team, Carr said: "When you abandon a property, bam, walk away from it, 'I ain't never coming back. I don't want nothing to do with it,' right? Somebody can come in, 'Oh, mine.'"
Carr says he is not acting alone. "I have a team of people who go out and I say make sure the house is empty. If it's empty, change the locks."
The family have now begun legal action. Their attorney said it had been a stressful time for them.
"This is stress that has fallen on their shoulders out of nowhere, after the death of a loved one and now they're responsible to answer to this," said the lawyer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbs2avh1ecI
