My finaces family inhereted a farm when thier parents died. They spent $40,000 in lawyer fees to keep it from going to step mom. Now this farm was worth $180,000 and they sold it for $65,000 to (keep it in the family because that is what mom would have wanted) This town is a black hole no day care etc. They said we didn't need the money off the farm we would have my dads lifeinsurance. we needed the money off the farm to move or put him in trucking school. (my dad died and within 2 days of my dad dying They justified selling the farm so cheap because of my dads life insurance. but anyway we are not going to get money off his life insurance cause it had to pay medical bills. The boat we got in the will has to pay lawyer fees. We did alot of work on the farm to get it ready to sell so they could get a descent price for it. They wont even reimburse us for it. they threw the house papers at ray to sign at his sons funeral so now we have no money for trucking school he cant get aloan and I feel I'm being treated as a business deal by his family any suggestions.our car burnt up on the way to the funeral and they didn't care they manipulated and lied to him.this isn't the way family should act toward each other.
still laying low and riding the storm. Thanks for all of the answers. as fustrating as this is life goes on.
Hire a pro-bono lawyer and let him/her know they sold the farm and below value and why. If anything, they could be forced to pay the portion of the value of the farm's actual true value. It doesn't matter if they have it or not, they may have to take out a loan against the farm to pay for selling it at so low of a price that the medical bills and fees couldn't get the money from the estate. In many states that is considered fraud.
People's true colors shine when someone dies, don't they? Your dad dying and you getting his life insurance has nothing to do with your fiance's family dying and money that is rightfully his. That said, you need a lawyer to stand up for you! You might have to sue them to get his fair share. Good luck.
Updated
I hope you got some good advice and everything turns out well for you.
People act weird when family dies...they act even more weird when there is money involved. For me personally (again, this is just me) I would let it all go. It's just MONEY. I know that may sound crazy. But do you really want to SPEND more money that you don't have for a small return (you know a pro-bono lawyer will take a chunk of whatever you can get). There is already a lot of tension - do you want to cause more? If these people are as manipulative as you say...this will be twisted around to reflect badly on you two anyway. I say cut your losses, move on and show them you are better people - with or without money.
I know your fiance wants to go to trucking school...and I'm positive this was the way to help him. But maybe just not at this time. It will come...
Hang in there and I'll pray for your situation to get better...
Have him retain a lawyer to support his interest not one that is for the whole family and they should never have sold it the way they did. He was under duress when he signed the papers at his son's funeral. Lots of families work like this. My husband sent around $30,000 to his mother to put in the bank when he got out of the service before we got married when he got home he had no money due to the whole family (mother, brothers and sisters) using it for their personal funds. When his mother died each one of the seven was to get what they had given her and then the rest was to be divided. My husband came home with a pot and lid and a coffee table while everyone else took everything we had given her since we had been married, everything he had sent her from Germany and even the one piece of furniture that had belonged to his fathers family which is was the oldest of a half brother took who hated my husbands father. Our children have nothing that belonged to their grandparents and I resent the fact that he was owed money and we ended up getting nothing and it has been years.
I have 3 children of my own and 15 that I have helped raised when they were little and I have given them the special things that I want them to have now while I am living to be sure that my wishes are carried out.
Good luck.
Count your blessings that you're not blood relatives with those family members but it does hurt to be involved when it includes the man you love. It sounds like it's a done deal and no matter what you wish would have happened, nothing can be changed at this point. So many folks are struggling right now so you're certainly not alone there. My husband's parents have passed away and his remaining family pretty much only call him when they want to ask for money or help with a house problem (and we are not in a position to help). He doesn't talk about them much because it's sort-of embarrassing for him and a big disappointment. Focus only on the good/caring/loving family members you are both related to and move on. The worry and frustrating events that took place will only bring you down if you continue to rehash them. Close that door and don't look back. This will help you in your future to know how to not treat those you really care about because you'll know how much it hurts. Try hard to not even discuss it because again, it sounds like it's really a done deal and no amount of worrying is going to result in any change.
