Legal Question in Family Law in Connecticut

I want to move my mother out of my home and into assisted living. She has been living in a basement apartment in my home for 10 years. Long story short she does not take care of her apartment or herself. She does not bathe, follow doctor's advice, or wash her clothes just to name a few things. She has had the same dirty dishes in her sink for years (not exaggerating). I do not clean up for her anymore because she just makes the place filthy again.

She now has mold growing in her basement apartment here in my house and lung doctor says she really shouldn't live there anymore. So she wants to come up and live on my main floor. She said if my husband and I take out a huge loan to gut the basement, she would move back downstairs. None of this is okay with us, and she is going to be mad when we tell her she has to leave. But she can well afford the new place, and she needs 24/7 oversight. (She does not know what year it is, or what season, and she makes stuff up that is not true.) In addition, she considers ME her whole life, and it is smothering me beyond a point that I can handle anymore. Wants to know my every move, wants to be with me all the time, etc.

I know she is lonely, which is another reason the assisted living makes so much sense. She absolutely refuses to leave the house except when we force her to go to the doctor. She has no interest in her other adult children or grandchildren, all of whom have made overtures to have her visit with them. What are my legal options? If she refuses to go to assisted living, can I lawfully "evict" her? (She does not have a lease or pay any rent. We reside in Connecticut, fyi.)


Asked on 2/25/10, 10:44 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Linda Subbloie Linda A. Subbloie, Esq.

It appears that your mother needs a conservator. You should go down to the probate court and apply to have one appointed. It can be you or a neutral person from the probate court list. A conservator would manage all of her affairs and make decisions for her. That person will also move her to a more appropriate living arrangement, whereever that should be.

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Answered on 3/02/10, 10:55 am


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