My son will be 18 in a few weeks. Since being released from a juvenile facility last Dec, he had done nothing. He refuses to help around the house or get a job. Basically he sleeps all day and stays up all night playing video games, watching TV and chatting (instant chat and text messaging). He lies, and has stolen over $3M from me in the past few months. He admitted, after his sister found his pipe, that much of the money went to buy pot. He claims he has not smoked since November. I have tried counseling, two counselors have "quit" saying he cannot be helped until he wants help. When I have taken away things such as the computer, TV, cell phone, he has stolen mine (which I must have for work purposes), hit me, knocked holes in the walls, damaged furniture, etc. The police were called when the drug pipe was found; they told me they would arrest him, then release him to my custody. The most he would get would be a six month probation. Under the circumstances, that's no help. My house is a shambles with holes in every wall and almost every piece of funiture damaged. Right now I have five broken window panes. I've tried everything. Now, as much as I love him, I want him out. What are my legal options? Thanks.

You can keep calling the police. Have you browsed through the information in LawInfo's Free Legal Resource Center to learn more about your issue yet? See: http://www.lawinfo.com/consumer.html. You can certainly try to speak to a lawyer to determine what legal options may be available. In the meantime, you may be able to learn more on your own. Search the "Free Legal Resources" tab, or browse the Consumer Resources. Good luck.

Whose TV is he watching? Who is paying for cable so he can continue to enjoy it? Whose food is he eating? Who paid for the bed he's sleeping on? Who paid for the dresser and other furniture in the room in your house that he's occupying? Whose phone contract is he talking/chatting on? Whose dishes is he using? Pots and pans? Silverware? Salt and pepper? Bath towels? Toilet paper?

If the answer isn't that HE is providing himself with those basics, then the time to start treating him like the adult he is...is now. As his "landlord", you're required to maintain the home - that means no leaky roof, running water, electricity, etc. You're not required to provide anything beyond those essentials and four walls.

If you have to lock everything in your bedroom, that'll work. Or, several good sized boxes, a schedule of you eating out or with friends, and a couple of weeks of storage fees can work WONDERS (and faster than eviction).

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