Providence, RI asked in Personal Injury, Civil Rights and Landlord - Tenant for Rhode Island

Q: My mother in law constantly puts her mitts on things that don't belong to her in an area deemed as a private area.

My mother lives in an area that is shared with my mother in law's things, but was given a clear division line for "her room". These spaces share a common door, however, every time we leave the house, my mother in law enters my mom's space, moves things around that do not belong to her, and removes things that are not hers. My mother does not touch anything that does not belong to her, but has repeatedly requested that her things be left alone. My mother in law says "it's in her house, she can do what she wants". Recourse? She has done it to me too. She snoops through our things ( my mother's too).

1 Lawyer Answer

A: Your remedies will depend on whether she is a guest or a tenant. If she is a guest, you might ask her to leave if she continues this behavior you find unacceptable. If she is a tenant, you may have to file a formal eviction.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.