Q: What is my liability in this case? Do I need a lwayer?
Good morning. I purchased a house in NJ back in 2001. My girlfriend, who lives with me gave me some funds at the time, but the house is in my name. She had a stroke back in 2017. She has been in three different nursing facilities in order to help her out. Now she is at home (with aides coming twice a day) where it was decided by her daughters that she would make the best recover. That has not happened. She is no better today then the day she came. I am traveling down to Florida for 6 month & she is adamant about not leaving the house. What is my liability if something happens to her while I'm gone?
A: You purchased a home in your name in 2001. To help with that purchase, your girlfriend put up money as well, which money presumably you never paid back. In 2017, your girlfriend had a stroke and is disabled as a result and requires assistance. Initially, she was in and out of 3 separate longer term care facilities, but her condition was not improving and as a result, she has "come home" to your house and is being cared for by aides in the house and your plan is to go to Florida for the next 6 months and leave her behind with the aides and you are trying to figure out if your actions could give rise to legal action against you in the event her suffers a serious injury while being left alone ( when the aides are not present).... or you are concerned that her daughters may decide to move into your home so that they can assist in her care. I gather you have no thought of taking your girlfriend with you to Florida for the next 6 months and arranging for care for her while in Florida? I dont know how much money your girlfriend put up towards the home purchase but maybe you use some of that money to pay for a person to come in to clean, cook meals and assist her with her care while you are away and keep track of the expense incurred so that while she is living in the house, she is receiving some additional assistance.
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