Earlier this month, we told you about the Colorado family that, after 8 months of trying to evict squatters who had moved into their temporarily vacated house and falsely claimed “adverse possession,” finally convinced a judge to order the squatters to leave. Seems like all was resolved. Not exactly.
To recap for those just coming into this story, the Colorado family relocated to Indiana last summer when the husband took a new job. However, they didn’t sell their house. Instead, they winterized it with the goal of returning in the spring.
But shortly afterward, a neighbor called to tell them a family had moved into the house. These squatters claimed they had purchased the property, claiming adverse possession — an antiquated and oft-misunderstood law that allows people to eventually take possession of an abandoned home if they maintain it and pay all the taxes and utilities.
After trying to get the police involved, the local authorities deemed it a civil matter. Thus, the rightful owners of the house were forced to live in a friend’s basement for months while they waited for their day in court.
Finally, earlier this month, the just gave the squatters two days to leave. But then the squatters successfully filed a temporary restraining order against the homeowners after the husband entered the unlocked house to take photographs and document the condition of the property.
Since the family couldn’t go near the house, when the 48 hour deadline had come and gone, they called the local police to report the squatters. Once again, a dead end.
“Littleton police officers did everything possible within the limits of their authority.” a rep for the town tells CBS Denver. “Circumstances of eviction are civil matters and enforcement is done by sheriff’s offices, not by local police agencies. It is really unfortunate that there are two families who are victims in this case.”
It took almost two weeks, but the county sheriff was finally about to get around to the eviction. But then, in the eleventh hour, one of the squatters filed for bankruptcy.
“The sheriff’s office will not proceed with an eviction if there is a bankruptcy in question,” said the Arapahoe County Undersheriff.
Which means the whole issue must now go before a Federal Bankruptcy Court, and we’ve heard a rumor that these court have been a bit busy of late. So it could be the fall before the homeowners even get to explain this outlandish situation to the court — again.
Squatters Remain In Littleton Home Despite Judge’s Ruling [CBS Denver]
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I would just walk into my house and say oh look intruders and shoot them dead! Hope they have stand your ground law! I would double tap them for go measure because he was reaching for something… I swear!
guess the first time this happens you take the legal route the second time if it Ever happens again you take the more direct approach (mobile phone jammers and cut the phone line {so they cant call the cops} and then move in to remove them from your property and drop them far away dispose of the contents inside the house legally{skip for example} )
As this is an extreme circumstance it seems extreme measures are in order. It would not surprise me if a couple of very large bikers would for a reasonable fee convince the squatters moving might be in their best interest. Hopefully they would throw in the scumbag rental agent for free. When the law fails to provide justice in a timely manor who could blame them for a little forced self help. If I was on the jury it would be NOT GUILTY for the true owners if they took this course of action.
I saw have a couple of friends dress up as ICE agents, and bang on the door at 3am. Scream this out”Este es el ICE, Tienes un minuto para salir de las instalaciones antes de que nos lance el culo de este país.”
Have the actual property owners went to the place where you can get a COPY of the TITLE/DEED to the land to prove this, or am I just shooting in the dark here?
If my comment is indeed correct: Then both of these people are idiots for not doing so in the FIRST place to prove ownership of the property (yes, even if it was NOT sold, it is still in the title/deed of the land that the person(s) own the property).
If not: Well, just wait and see.
Time for the glock.
I must be missing something here. I don’t see how the squatters can get away with this since the owners were not gone for very long. If I break into someone’s house in the middle of the night, I can’t just claim I live there and keep the police from arresting me. They will drag me out of the house in cuffs.
What is to stop the homeowners from breaking in, and moving in? The police could not kick them out of the home since the homeowners could prove they own the home and the squatters can’t prove they are renting or own the home.
Also, adverse possession claims require living in a place for several years. The squatters have no idea what they are talking about.
This problem could have been solved by the PD on the first day. Farva could have called his chief to find out the how long the squatters needed to live at the property. After being told it is 18 years, he should have sent them packing or arrested them.
Wow this is a whole new level of creepy.
How the hell could the squatters get a temporary restraining order against the owners when they entered to take photos to document the condition of the home, yet the owners don’t seem to be able to get any such order against the squatters? Who enforced the squatters’ TRO? The local police? The same police who claim that they cannot get involved in this “civil matter”?
This would be hilarious if it weren’t real. It’s no wonder anymore why folks pick up guns and start shooting in Colorado.
These people do not own the damned house, how are they allowed to stay there? Im pretty sure this is trespassing, pure and simple.
Truthfully, I would ignore the civil TRO and take forcefull action to remove them from my house. There isn’t all that much teeth to the civil order anyway. And yes I have been sacntioned for using violence.
Gah CO state law sucks.
But it was never their house.
WTF is wrong with people?
“TWO families who are victims in this case.”?
Really? since when is a thief who steals your home a victim?!
I don’t get it. The squatters have been found to be illegally living in the house – the dead holder of record has been verified by the courts – this seems more like a case of trespassing, than an eviction.
I also fail to see how filing for bankruptcy will get the trespassers the house – they have already been proven to NOT OWN IT.
You are correct, however what’s going on here is they are exploiting protections meant for law-abiding citizens to extend their stay in the stolen home. No one really doubts that they’ll get kicked out, but unfortunately the law says that if you file bankruptcy, a bankruptcy judge has to decide what’s right and wrong. He/She will obviously find that they can’t keep the stolen home, it’s just a matter of time.
It’s kind of like the jewel thief fleeing the crime scene and making it to the swiss embassy. The embassy has to go through due process before they can hand over said jewel thief which might buy him a few hours to arrange his next move. (I see the movie in my head).