Mar 1, 2026
Carol's frustration was heard loud and clear when she called in to The Ramsey Show.
At 75, she and her 80-year-old husband share their home with someone who they believe shouldn't still be there: their 52-year-old daughter (1).
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"She is single, and she has always been underemployed," Carol explained to hosts George Kamel and Jade Warshaw. "We can afford to have her here, but she is annoying. We would like to be alone in our old age.”
When Carol asked how she could get her daughter out of the house, the response from the hosts was immediate and dramatic: "You need to go,” said Kamel, taking on the role of Carol in a hypothetical conversation with her daughter. Warshaw also doubled down on this stance.
“Kicking her out, closing the door, changing the locks,” said Warshaw in response to Carol’s question.
When adult children never leave
Approximately one in three U.S. adults ages 18 to 34 live in their parents's home, according to U.S. Census Bureau data, CNBC reports (2). But Carol's daughter represents an extreme case.
For 52 years, the daughter has lived with her parents in Ohio almost continuously. One brother who had taken her in for a year eventually declared, "she cannot be here anymore," and no other siblings will offer housing.
"She doesn't want to work," Carol admitted, “and we have enabled this."
For older parents like Carol and her husband, supporting an underemployed middle-aged adult can erode retirement security and peace of mind that takes decades to build.
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The legal reality
To make sure Carol goes about removing her daughter from her home in the right way, Kamel advised her to look into Ohio state laws and possibly call an attorney.
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Laws vary by state, but in Ohio, Carol's daughter isn't just considered a family member who’s living with her parents; she’s a legal tenant, even if she’s not paying rent (3).
Ohio law requires landlords to provide at least 30 days written notice for month-to-month tenancies (4). The state also mandates that eviction notices contain specific language (5): "You are being asked to leave the premises. If you do not leave, an eviction action may be initiated against you."
Finally, if the daughter refuses to vacate after proper notice, Carol would need to file a formal eviction lawsuit.
The tough conversation
This may not be an easy conversation for Carol and her husband to have with their daughter, but it should be fairly straightforward.
Warshaw even provided a script that Carol can use.
“‘This has gone on long enough. We have decided that you are moving out,’” said Warshaw, taking on the role of Carol in this discussion with her daughter. “Not that, ‘we want you to move out.’ Say it clear. ‘We've decided that you are moving out and you're going to move out at the end of the month … I love you, but this has to stop for your good and for ours.’”
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The hosts also recommended offering limited help — perhaps first and last month's rent plus a few counseling sessions — but nothing more.
Read More: Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan ‘works every single time’ to kill debt, get rich in America — and that ‘anyone’ can do it
Why this matters
Carol's situation highlights how temporary arrangements such as this can snowball into permanent dependence, harming both generations.
While many young adults in their 20s and even 30s might live with family members to get ahead financially, especially as housing costs continue to climb, supporting someone in their 50s who refuses to work represents a failed launch that was never corrected.
For retirees, supporting an adult child who refuses employment drains savings, increases stress and creates estate planning nightmares. What happens when the parents die? Without independence now, Carol's daughter could face catastrophic vulnerabilities later on in life.
“If she lives another 30 years, she needs to live it freely with independence, not codependent on mom and dad in their old age,” Kamel stressed.
Practical steps for parents like Carol
In Ohio, parents generally must follow the legal eviction process if an adult child refuses to leave. Here are some key steps to follow:
- Provide proper written notice: Ohio requires 30 days for month-to-month tenancies with required statutory language.
- Consult a local attorney: Municipal procedures vary. Attorneys ensure compliance and can help with avoiding delays.
- Offer limited transition assistance, like first and last month's rent, without creating ongoing dependence.
- Prepare for backlash: Adult children who've never faced consequences will likely react poorly. Both parents must stay firm.
- Remember, laws vary by state: Ohio's 30-day requirement is the same in states like Florida, but differs in places like California, which requires 30–60 days depending on how long a tenant has lived in the home (6).
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
The Ramsey Show (1); CNBC (2); Ruzicho Law (3); Justia (4, 5); Nolo (6).
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With a writing and editing career spanning over 13 years, Emma creates and refines content across a broad spectrum of industries, including personal finance, lifestyle, travel, health & wellness, real estate, beauty & fitness and B2B/SaaS/tech. Her versatility comes through contributions to high-profile clients like Moneywise, Healthline, Narcity and Bob Vila, producing content that informs and engages, along with helping book authors tell their stories.
