Squatters

Every month, I encounter hundreds of true stories about distressed property ownership in my work as an asset recovery specialist.

Here's one about a family in deadlock with a squatter:

• A father's girlfriend claimed his house after his death—without any legal right

• The Sheriff said she needed a court order but she couldn’t afford the lawyer

• We offered the family an alternative that was actually within reach

In the end, their story shows us a counterintuitive truth when it comes to distressed real estate: you don't always need to fight to win.

Note: While this story is based on real events, some details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

Know someone dealing with inherited property drama? Share this newsletter to show them there's always another way.

The Squatter Moves In

Sarah Mitchell's hands shook as she hung up the phone with yet another attorney. "$5,000 upfront," she muttered, adding another impossible number to her growing list.

This was the fourth lawyer she'd called about removing the woman who'd taken over her late father's home in Central Valley, Texas—a woman who had no legal right to be there.

The High Price of Justice

"I'm supposed to be in trauma therapy," Sarah told me during our first call. "I'm supposed to be taking care of myself. Instead, I'm making phone calls all day, getting different answers from every attorney, and watching my family fall apart over this house."

Her father's girlfriend had moved fast after his passing. She'd taken his truck, sold his Harley, and claimed his 1-acre property as her own.

She even started paying the taxes and mortgage—a clever move that made her seem legitimate to anyone who didn't know better.

When Sarah and her siblings tried to reclaim their inheritance, local law enforcement delivered crushing news: they'd need a court order to remove the girlfriend.

In other words, an expensive legal battle they couldn't afford.

Call in the Cavalry

"But what if you didn't have to fight at all?" I asked Sarah.

Like many people facing property disputes, Sarah thought she had only two options: find thousands of dollars for a lawyer or lose her father's property forever.

She had no idea there was a third option: selling her inherited interest to someone else who would handle the legal battle instead.

⚔️ No need for a $5,000 retainer.

⚔️ No months of stress and uncertainty.

⚔️ No risk of losing money on a failed court case.

At Piedmont ARP, we face down squatters every week. We've seen every trick, fought every battle, and mastered the art of squatter removal.

We Fight So You Don't Have To

Here's what most people don't realize: you don't have to fight every battle yourself.

Sometimes, the smartest move is letting someone else take on the risk and moving on. For Sarah and her siblings, this was a revelation.

Instead of draining their savings on long legal battle that they might not win, they could sell their interests, let someone else pick up the sword, and move forward with their lives.

At Piedmont ARP, that’s what we do. We can take on the battles keeping you up at night—so you can get back to living your life.