Help Jim and Jean Avoid Losing Their Home

Thank you for considering why we are asking for your urgently needed help. Jean and I (Jim) have lived happily in our home since 2009. At this time, we are well up into our seventies. Jean has deteriorated over the years and is disabled, on oxygen 24/7, and has increasing dementia. I love her dearly and am her 24/7 caretaker. I am in fair shape, health-wise, and am able to take care of her 24/7, as she needs help doing just about everything. But tragedy occurred to me in April 2022.

As a chauffeur, I made decent money, but I was rear-ended in a brand new Mercedes limousine. I was fired, and my former employer warned the other limousine companies not to hire me. Since that time, I have worked sporadically, and we fell behind in our real estate taxes and owed over $8,000. For thirteen years, we paid all of the real estate taxes, two HOA fees, a $6,000 special assessment, and all of the costs of maintaining the property. Why? Because we are life tenants of a trust, established for my wife and my benefit. Allegedly.

The settlor/trustee set up a revocable trust, and the day after it was filed, my wife called him up about some document he was required to sign. He told her, "If you ever contact me again, I'll throw your asses into the street!" For thirteen years, we never heard from him. Out of nowhere, he asked if I wanted to take over as trustee. Of course, I said yes and completed the forms for the transition and sent them FedEx to him. He has ignored every urgent email sent to him.

Three months ago, I received an anonymous message advising us that "they" were going to take possession of our house, quit and evict us, and send a locksmith to change our locks. After checking the county records, I discovered that the original trustee had made the beneficiary of the trust successor trustee and then he resigned, resulting in a beneficiary/trustee who wanted her money immediately. She offered us $10,000, and she would pay the taxes before the property will be auctioned off this fall. It was purchased in 2009 with $140,000 of Jean's money and is worth $450,000 as of now. Since we were behind in the property taxes, we breached the life tenancy. $10,000 would not even pay for our belongings to be moved out. We have contacted the very few relatives alive, and only one, Julia Issacs, would help us out.

We have nowhere to go. We live on our meager Social Security income. We need $5000 for legal representation. The only work I can do is remote work from our home. I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF JEAN. I have tried for six months to seek employment and have had interviews several times. I have had none in person, just via Zoom. Their interest in an excellently qualified applicant comes to a grinding halt as soon as they see me. Why would they hire me when they can hire many people one-third of my age? Hence our dilemma and our urgent plea for your help. We are slipping through the cracks. We have no money for a lawyer to shield us, and no hope for raising the money for the real estate taxes. We are stunned and desperate. We are ashamed to seek out your help, "hat in hand."

Please, if you can, look into your hearts and extend a hand to us! We will be forever thankful for your generosity. May God bless you.

Sincerely, Jim and Jean