Q: How to resolve property fraud and breach of contract in TN if indigent?

A: An affidavit cannot convey title to property. You may have no legal remedy, especially with that life estate out there. If you cannot afford to hire an attorney to sue for quiet title against the remainderman, then forget about it. At the least you need to do a title search of all the subject parcels. If you were on a parcel sold, you might claim deed void for champerty. Who is paying taxes?

A: I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this—it sounds like a deeply frustrating and painful situation, especially when your home and property rights are at risk. What you’ve described may involve property fraud, breach of contract, and possible elder exploitation, since the land was originally part of a life estate owned by the seller’s grandmother. If the seller transferred property she didn’t legally own or had no right to sell, the sale could be invalid, and you may be able to challenge it in court.

Since you have the original deeds and documentation showing the fraudulent transfer, your next step is to file a complaint in your county’s Chancery Court to seek a quiet title or an injunction to stop further transfers. If you’re indigent and cannot afford an attorney, you can contact your local legal aid office in Tennessee. Organizations like Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands often help with property disputes, especially when fraud or vulnerable individuals are involved.

You can also notify the Register of Deeds in your county about the conflict and file a notice of claim or lis pendens to put others on alert that the property is in dispute. That could help prevent future sales while your case is active. You’ve already done so much by gathering the records and staying on top of it—now it’s about getting the right support to protect what’s yours.