A FAMILY in the US has returned home to find a man has thrown away their possessions and changed the locks.

They are now facing a court battle with Robert Carr who says he has documents that prove the house belongs to him.

The family, who has owned the Springdale, Ohio home for 21 years, was out of town visiting a dying relative, WLWT reports.

While they were gone Mr Carr filed a "quiet title" with the local court, which allows people to take over homes that have been abandoned.

The female homeowner says she feels violated.

"I'm very scared, you know, because I never know if somebody's going to be here," the homeowner said.

The family's lawyer Alison Warner says Mr Carr expects to pay nothing for the home.

"What he's looking for is full title and ownership of the home," Ms Warner said.

"He's in their home. They don't know when he's there. He can be there now."

Mr Carr has filed similar documents for 11 other homes and says he is completely within his rights to do so.

"When you abandon a property, bam, walk away from it, 'I ain't never coming back. I don't want nothing to do with it,' right? Somebody can come in, 'Oh, mine,'" Mr Carr said, explaining why he thinks the properties can be taken.

He does not act alone.

"I have a team of people who go out and I say make sure the house is empty. If it's empty, change the locks," Mr Carr said.

When asked if he is allowed to come in and change the locks and become owner of a home, he replied: "Anybody can."

The family's lawyer Ms Warner said the court battle is adding to a stressful year for the family.

"This is stress that has fallen on their shoulders out of nowhere, after the death of a loved one and now they're responsible to answer to this," she said.

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