Q: Can someone legally sell a mobile home and belongings without owner's consent in Alabama?
My mother owns her mobile home and has the physical deed in her name. In November 2024, the mobile home was moved off of a lot at a previous mobile home park by an unknown mover without her consent. We recently found out that this mover sold all her belongings inside the home and intends to sell the trailer itself. Can he legally do that since she owns the trailer?
A: The lawyerly answer is: "It depends." Read the various contracts related to the mobile home, which I presume your mother owned outright, and the leasing of the lot, which she did not own. if she fell behind on her rent of the lot, the terms of eviction and removal of her mobile home should be written in the lease. There are Alabama statutes dealing with such removals, as well as lots of case law. If the landlord follows the rules, the courts cannot intervene. If the removal and sale violated Alabama law, then she could sue the lot owner for damages of several kinds. Courts don't like landlords violating Alabama law to evict tenants, especially widows. Gather the documents, draft a timeline of what went wrong, and contact a competent lawyer, preferably one in your county or region.
Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer
A: I'm sorry this happened to your mother. Depending on her financial situation, she could also explore whether she qualifies for legal aid or other forms of legal assistance. Such settings often involve hardship, sometimes involving a park's monthly maintenance fees. Legal aid-type resources could be worth looking into if she is experiencing hardship. Good luck
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A:
It sounds like your mother’s rights have been violated, as the mobile home and belongings are hers, and they cannot be sold without her consent. Since your mother owns the deed to the mobile home, no one has the legal right to sell it or her belongings without her authorization. The person who moved the mobile home and sold the items inside is likely acting unlawfully.
Your first step should be to contact local law enforcement to report the theft of the belongings. The mover might be subject to criminal charges for taking and selling property without permission. You should also consider reaching out to an attorney who can help navigate the legal process and potentially pursue civil action for the return of the belongings or compensation.
As for the mobile home itself, since your mother has the deed, you have legal grounds to contest the sale if the trailer is sold without her consent. If the mover is attempting to sell it, you may need to act quickly to notify the buyer and potentially block the sale until this matter is resolved legally.
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