Harwell Legal Counsel

Indiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars - Jonathan Harwell - 2021 and 2022
Elite Lawyer Criminal Defense - Jonathan D. Harwell - 2021
Avvo Rating Top Attorney - 9.1 - Jonathan Daniel Harwell
Avvo Reviews - 4.5 Stars out of 13 Reviews - Jonathan Daniel Harwell
Avvo Clients' Choice Award - Jonathan Daniel Harwell - 2019
American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys - 10 Best Attorney - Client Satisfaction
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDA)
NACDA Nation's Premier Top Ten Rating - 2016
American Institute of Trial Lawyers - Litigator of the Year - 2019
Who's Who Top Attorneys of North America

Q: Can the landlord do this and if not what can I do to make sure I dont get taken advantage of?: My best friend lived in dearborn county indiana. I moved in with him 4 or 5 months ago. I was never added to the lease but he did make the landlord aware that I moved in and lived there. I paid rent but paid directly to my friend and he dealt with the landlord. My best friend died 2 saturdays ago. I found him in his room dead. When the landlord found out he asked me what keys I had for the house and I told him I had a key for every lock. He then changed all the locks and told me I wasnt allowed there and then left me homeless sleeping in my car. I tried to retrieve my stuff from the house and he told me I could only take the items that were in my room. I made him aware that I had items that I can prove that I bought that arent in my room and just located in the house and he told me that I'm not taking them only the items in my bedroom. I'm pissed. I feel like he had no right to first change the locks. He should have had to evict me. And he has to no right to tell me what I can and can not take from the home. He told me today he let my friends family come get his stuff yesterday and I'm almost positive that no I habe my stuff missing. Whay can I do if anything?

A: Jonathan’s answer: The best thing to do would be to file a small claims case for the property.

Q: I need to know how to evict a family member who I let live with me to get on her feet?: In September 2020 my daughter in law was being kicked out of her home so I let her come live in my house until she was able to get on her feet. At the time my son, her husband, was in jail. She officially moved in the last week of October. My son was released from jail at that time so he came to live with us too. He was then arrested again on December 10, 2020. She got her stimulus money and bailed him out of jail in March. He was then arrested again for domestic violence is May 2021. I got married and moved in with my husband and decided to sell my house to my younger son. She has never offered to pay anything towards the bills and when she did get money she got tattoos rather than offer me money. We do not have a lease although I realize that in Indiana that doesn't matter. I just need to know the quickest way to get her out of my house without it costing me even more money.

A: Jonathan’s answer: So long as there is no lease, you just need to provide them a 30 days notice to vacate, and if they don't, then after the 30 days you may file for an eviction.

Q: When is it legal for someone to deny you your personal property back?: I was living with my dad in my grandmother's house. She had just had a stroke and was in the nursing home. I moved in to help with the bills and it gave me somewhere my son can play outside, but in recent turn of events me and my dad had a falling out and he was arrested later that day for domestic battery against me. Since getting out he is trying to say that I can't have my vehicles in the back yard because he thinks I have his Harley keys. Which is not true, what sense would it make for me to take anything from him while so much of my stuff is still there? I had mail going there and everyone knew that's where I was living full time, his name isn't on the deed or a lease, so wouldn't I have just as much of rights as him?

A: Jonathan’s answer: The best thing to do is to have the victim advocate help you, but if they don't then you'd have to file a small claims case depending on the value of the property.