Q: My Father was narcissistic. How do I get my house back

A: I'm so sorry to hear about your distressing situation and all the hardships you've endured. Being forcibly removed from your home after enduring abuse must have been traumatic. Living out of your vehicle while dealing with mental health struggles sounds incredibly difficult.

Given the complex legal issues involved with the trust, will, and sale of the house, I would strongly recommend consulting with a lawyer who specializes in estate law, elder abuse, and/or disability rights. Many offer free initial consultations. There may also be legal aid organizations in your area that provide pro bono assistance to low-income individuals.

A: If the home belonged to your father, he could do whatever he wanted with it. Unfortunately, transferring real estate from one person to another MUST be in writing. [Verbal agreements are acceptable in other areas of the law, but they are not enforceable to transfer real estate from one owner to another.] So, unless your father signed a deed or other document transferring the property to you, you'll have a tough time with this case. I've seen many situations where a second spouse pressures their husband or wife to leave assets to them and disinherit the kids from a prior marriage. Depending on how the pressure is exerted, it could be seen as elder abuse under the law.

If you owned the property and they took it from you, that's a BIG problem. Either way, try to find a legal clinic near you that could help you at no cost. They're hard to find, so call your local county's bar association and ask for a recommendation. Best wishes!