Webster, MA asked in Real Estate Law and Elder Law for Massachusetts

Q: Can you force someone off the deed if an elderly person was taken advantage of?

We have this older person who has no family left in the US. Some time ago she sold her prior house and moved closer to people she knew while her husband was still alive in order for all of us to take better care of her. Her husband has since died and she is left with no family in the US. Unfortunately the woman who helped facilitate the selling of her prior house and the purchase of the new house was added to the deed, our concern is she may have taken advantage of this elderly woman. This elderly woman now wants to alter her deed in the hopes to sell the property so she can move back to Italy. Our concern is that this other woman will not remove herself voluntarily from the deed, is there any legal remedy for this. This issue is in Massachusetts.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
Answered
  • Woburn, MA
  • Licensed in Massachusetts

A: Is the elderly woman competent and cooperating with you and understanding that the "other woman"'s behavior was questionable? If so then she can hire counsel to seek to revoke the deed based upon the conduct of the "other woman" and should do so as soon as possible. Otherwise a complaint to elder affairs would be a starting point and potentially a Conservator could be appointed to address this misfeasance by the " other woman".

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