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Sister in law destroyed our trailer!
My sister in law was living in a trailer. Which was my husbands and mine. She moved out this past week ( I had not been in the trailer while she lived there) She moved 300 miles away. She has two children and a husband she used to have a dog. We decided to remodel the trailer when she moved out so after she moved we go into the trailer and there is trash every where clothes dirty diapers used condoms. ETC, The toilet was filled with crap. There was pee soaked carpets, black mold in the fridge roaches etc. She is living with a friend in another state now. The kids are away from it now but it is bothering me so much. (when she moved into the trailer it was not this way we had it cleaned up good.)
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Maybe give some free advice about: Families?
Then follow my advise on documenting the condition of the trailer as you have found it. Then contact Child Protective services in the County or City for the State she now lives in. The pictures document your concern. As a immediate family member you concern is valid and you have every right to ask them to investigate and intercede if needed. If CPS takes the children be prepared for they may ask you to take custody if there is no one in their state, a relative, to do so.
I'm not sure what your question is. Are you asking for advice on how or if you should ask your sister to pay for the cost of cleaning and remodeling the trailer? Is your question more for the health and safety of her children,.
The answer to both questions starts with documenting the condition the trailer is in. Take pictures of the trailer. Makes sure in each picture is a copy of that days local news paper of which you have also taken a good picture of. This documents when the pictures were taken.
No matter where she and her children are there is a child protection service office. If your concerns are for the health and safety of her children you can then send the pictures to that office. You have every right to ask them to investigate the current living situations of your nieces or nephews based on the condition you found your trailer in. If the children's current conditions are equal to or worse, or heading in that direction CPS now has the documentation needed to take the appropriate action to protect the children.
The pictures also document your loss. Unfortunately your sister lives out of state. If she refuses to pay for repairs, depending on the cost, you can take her to either District small claims court or to a higher court. Unfortunately for civil action her return to answer the summons is not enforceable. You will receive a default judgement which you would then have to get the court in the state she is now living in to enforce. Of course all the hard feelings the family may put to this will go a long with any action you may take against your sister.
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Hello,
This is one of those situations where if you don't handle it properly, your family could break apart for a long time.
The first question for me is whether you (you and your husband) had a good relationship with her before this incident? I assume so, because she was staying in your trailer? This is important, as it helps to figure out whether she trashed the trailer on purpose, of this is just the way she lived?
Also, are you sure it was her? Did it go un-occipied for a while after she moved out? Maybe some vandals can in and trashed it? You should investigate this before pointing the finger at your sister, just to ensure it wasn't her.
Let us assume you went in and saw this straight after she moved out, and it was her that did it. I think what you should do is to give her a call, or write to her if you can. Make sure you're calm, and I advise your husband makes the call. The reason I say this, is because sister-in-laws usually don't get on great. And she would maybe be more open if it were her brother calling. Maybe I'm wrong through, maybe you two had a good relationship. Either way, give her a call and say:
"Hey. How are you? Are you settling in well? That's good. Well, we just came into the trailer, and we just wondered what happened? Its really messy, with the toilet blocked up, etc etc etc".
-Note the calm nature, and starting it friendly. If you go in, all guns blazing, screaming down the phone and making accusations, it really will make her deny it all, and put the phone down. Ask her what happened, and explain that it's going to cost you a lot of money to fix this up. If she volunteers to help with the clean up, then you are in! If she denies it, then send pictures, and make sure she admits to it (if she did it).
You will also need to take some photographs (In-case you need them). Do this before clearing everything up. A camera costs all of $5 for a disposable one from a drug store, so don't put this off.
In regards to cleaning, you should do as much as you can after taking the pictures. Like clearing diapers, etc etc. Anything that you can do, do it. Stuff that needs speciality care that you will have to pay for, you can keep the bills.
Now, you can either sue her (small claims), try and convince her out of court to pay the costs, or just pay for it yourself. This is an option for you, but realise that the Courts should be a last resort, and the photo's will be useful there.
In regards to the children, were they staying here? If you are really worried about their welfare, you can file an anonymous report with child protective services, but be sure that you have reasonable proof i.e. photo's again. Be sure not to do this out of spite though, and only if you genuinely are concerned.
Good luck, and I hope I helped :)
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