What rights does a 83 year old have

My father in law has decided to sell his home, and his friend has decided to buy it after he convinced my father in law it is not worth anything. My mother in law has a medical problem and has no ideal what is going on around her. She can tell you things that happened 20 years ago, but she can't tell you what happen 10 minutes ago. Does she have rights as far as her home goes. You cannot talk with him, he has already made up his mind to sell their farm. Thanks, Carole

Carole, laws on community property rights are State specific. She likely does have ownership rights, but it may be best to check with an attorney. Do you or does she have a copy of the current deed to her home? If she is a joint tenant or tenant in common, she would likely have to sign any final deed transfer from any sale. If you believe she doesn’t want to sell, I’d suggest getting her to a RE attorney for a consultation, with copies of her deed and relevant information. If she is nearing the point of needing skilled nursing, you may want to discuss medicare/Medicaid issues and selling her primary home as well.

He is forceing her to sell her home for less than it is worth, and they have to live on the amount they will get for the farm, he think women have no cents at all. We have tried to talk to him but it is of no use. They have lived there for over 38 years, and he had the place before they married, she worked and help pay off the other children from his former wife. He had no children of his own. They also built a new home on the place in 1980 with her help. Now she does not know what is what around her. We just don't want to see both of them get the shaft which is happening as we speak. But should her two sons have some say in the way their Mother is being rail roaded. Does he have all the rights as far as she is concerned. We have tried to get him to have an Real Estate person to come out and give him the amount it is worth. But he letting the Friend do all the work with his Attorney. He had her signing a lot of papers that says she has Altimzer (sic), but the Doctors say she does not have Altimzer, We do not know what the paper work is all about. This is happening in Texas.

“But should her two sons have some say in the way their Mother is being rail roaded.”

If this is a question… by all means, her two sons should get off their duffers and help their mother! They could arrange an appointment with an attorney and get her there.

“He had her signing a lot of papers that says she has Altimzer (sic), but the Doctors say she does not have Altimzer, We do not know what the paper work is all about.”

Either she’ll get a backbone, starts saying “NO”, and allow someone to help her… or things will continue as they are.