We have been living my sister-in-laws home since December 1999. We have never paid any rent. We have done up grades which include new roof with soffit and eavestrough/new furnance/new bathroom/new flooring/new windows. We also replaced an old wire fence with new fencing and added decks. We have been paying the property taxes since we moved in. This week we received a notice to evict by July 31 2010. We have NOT had any contact with the sister-in-law as she moved to Sicily in 1980-81. What recourse do we have? Can we claim "squatters rights"?

Hello g:

There's no "squatters right's" anymore. Besides, why do you think you have claim on the property? You didn't pay rent. If you fixed up the place, it was certainly in lieu of rent. If you HAD paid it in the form of rent, would you somehow think that entitles you to a piece of the property?? I don't think you would.

excon