Q: Can the city force me to put a water bill in my name and threaten to turn my water off and kick me out?
My dad died in 97. Mom kept everything in his name and died in 2013. She intended the house to go to me but died. No will. I've been paying the bills and have lived here all my life. Now the water company suddenly says either I get the house in my name and the water bill as well or they will shut my water off and kick me out. Do I have any rights here to stop this? I can't put the house on my name in ten days.
A: The city ordinances might allow the city to shut off the water and order you out. You do not have legal title to the house, and are not a tenant under a lease, so you have no legal right to live there, so the city cannot transfer the bill to your name. There will have to be probate court filings for both your mother and father to open their probate estates to sort this out and transfer the house to you and any other heirs. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local probate attorney to review the situation and advise you.
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