Q: My late mother’s husband brought me up as his daughter since I was a child. He had a will that left EVERYTHING to me, my home and all his assets. At the time he was diagnosed terminally ill, my dad’s brother (Stanley) disowned me and stole my dad’s wilI, and forged my dad’s signature to the title of my home, making it a co-tenancy, my mother was still alive at the time and therefore still owned half of the home, correct? Wouldn’t this alone make the co-tenancy title null and void? I contacted the bar association in the hopes that they could locate the attorney who prepared the will, to no avail. At the time I was having very difficult emotional health problems, due to some trauma that I had faced as well as the thought of losing my dad, whom I relied on for everything. Therefore Stanley’s wife was appointed power of attorney as well as caretaker for my dad. She stole all my assets as well as cancelled his life insurance (to which I was the sole beneficiary). Stanley evicted me from my own home, making me completely indigent. I was recently approved for SSDI and although I am by no means wealthy anymore, if I were able to reclaim my assets I could pay. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: If your step father and mother were on the deed as husband and wife, and they were married at the time of the forgery, both would have had to sign a new deed because husbands and wives hold property by the entireties. Stanley would have had to have forged both of their signatures to transfer title of the home. If your mother and step father were on the deed as tenants in common for some reason, Stanley could have forged your step father’s signature to transfer one-half an interest in the house. However, when a husband and wife purchase property it is presumed to be by the entireties. Much more information is needed. You need to investigate. I would go to your deed registry or recorder and look up the deed. You also can check your local probate court to see if a will was filed. If it was, you can examine it and learn who the attorney was and much more. You also need to be aware of any statute of limitation issues. The statute of limitation for fraud is 4 years for fraud.

Q: What do I need to put in a brief to the superior Court for an appeal in an Allegheny county PA child’s fast track? Appealing an emergency motion on 4 errors 1. Biased- defendant called in to Chambers without plaintiff 2. Lack of notice -served Oct 2, court on Oct 5th 3. Lack of due process-asked for a fair hearing, was not granted 4. Violation legal custody rights. (Pittsburgh, PA)

A: Appellate practice is tricky and has lots of rules. It is almost a specialty among attorneys. I no longer handle my own appeals and refer them to someone who does them routinely. I believe you are on a fatal course if you handle this yourself.

Q: As the father I attempted to fight for custody of my son. My ex has sent harassing messages to not only me but my family as well. She mocked my cousin who has breast cancer and was going through chemo, threatened to call the IRS on my parents for not paying the child support she “deserved”. She then later screen shot her calling after the support hearing being dissatisfied. She has hacked into my Facebook, and emails, which she admitted to. She investigated evidence and conversations I had with my lawyer at the time. I do have a police case against her. She is also a cam model where she has mentioned her kids, no names mentioned, on her cam blog. I have been stricken with anxiety trying to talk to my son. I have sleepless nights and constant fear in picking up or responding to her messages as she continues to harass me. As we now live in different states my only way of communicating with her is through video chat. She continues with harassing messages while being more civil as I now being given permission from my lawyer to film the interaction. I’m just lost. (Cecil Twp., PA)

A: She sounds sweet. I assume when you mean “web cam model” she is involved in some sort of sordid pleasure for pay voyeurism? If that is what you mean, I can offer this. All sorts of parents come before Family Court judges. Those with alcohol and drug problems, serious mental health issues and criminal records. The Family Court view is, do these factors prevent the parent from parenting or put the child at risk? Certainly, it doesn’t put her in a favorable light what she is doing but it is not as bad as her being arrested for prostitution and drugs during her custody times. I would preserve the information and give it to your attorney. He or she will decide if you should use it and if so, when and how. It can only help your case but don’t think it will be the big slam dunk you are looking for. However, people like this will eventually hang themselves if you are patient and give them enough rope. As far as her communicating with you, you can obviously put an end to that if you wish, so do it or stop complaining about it. Hang in there and listen to your attorney. There is a good chance she will self-destruct.