Dad Steals Inheritance From Teen Daughter, Shocked When She Comes Back For It As An Adult

We all hope our family relationships will be simple and supportive. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

One woman found herself in the middle of a deeply uncomfortable situation. After her mother passed away when she was a child, she was left a $100K inheritance. But as a teen, her father used that money to start a business with his new wife, essentially stealing it from her.

Now an adult, she decided to fight for what was rightfully hers and took him to court. She doesn’t regret the decision—though now she’s asking: was it heartless to leave his new family with nothing?

The woman went on a mission to win back the $100K inheritance her dad had taken from her years ago

Young woman sitting on stairs looking thoughtful, representing woman taking dad to court over stolen inheritance case.

Image credits: Meg / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

But now she’s questioning whether it was right to leave his new family empty-handed

Text excerpt about a woman suing her father over a stolen inheritance of more than $100K, causing him financial trouble.

Woman takes dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance, leaving him broke after legal battle.

Woman takes dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance, leaving him broke after legal battle for stolen money.

Text excerpt about family support displayed in a plain layout, relating to woman taking dad to court over stolen inheritance.

Woman confronts dad in wood-paneled room during tense discussion about stolen inheritance and court battle over money.

Image credits: Ron Lach / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Woman takes dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance, leaving him broke and causing family financial upheaval.

Woman takes dad to court over stolen inheritance, leaving him broke after lengthy legal battle to recover $100K.

Text excerpt about a woman fighting to reclaim stolen inheritance money from her dad who took it to support his new family.

Woman in blue shirt holding glasses, stressed and contemplative, depicting stolen inheritance court dispute emotions.

Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text excerpt about strained relationship after dad’s stolen inheritance case over $100K, leaving him broke.

Text excerpt discussing feeling zero guilt after a woman takes dad to court over stolen inheritance leaving him broke.

Text excerpt about a woman feeling zero guilt over taking her dad to court for a stolen $100K inheritance dispute.

Image credits: ComplaintNatural5528

Image credits: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Almost 70% of families lose part of their inheritance due to some kind of conflict

Your family might be the most supportive, loving, and tight-knit group around, willing to go through hell and back for each other. But when it comes to inheritance? That’s when things can get messy. You never really know who might turn on you.

Sometimes, it could even be your own father, like in the story above.

While it may seem dramatic, family inheritance disputes are far from rare. In fact, research by the Williams Group, spanning more than two decades, found that nearly 70% of families lose a portion of their inherited wealth, mostly due to arguments and estate battles.

And honestly, it’s not all that surprising. When grief, emotions, money, and family heirlooms collide, it creates a powder keg of tension that can explode at any moment.

So is there anything you can do to reduce the risk of family fallout?

According to FindLaw, a resource for legal information aimed at consumers and small businesses, there are a few steps that won’t eliminate every possible fight, but they might help minimize the damage. Here’s what they suggest:

Prepare a will and keep it updated

It sounds obvious, but a shocking number of people pass away without ever writing a will. And that often leads to chaos.

A clear, updated will is one of the simplest ways to avoid confusion and prevent unnecessary conflict. It outlines what goes to whom and why.

Some things to include:

• A list of what your heirs will inherit (property, valuables, etc.)
• The name of a legal guardian if you have minor children
• Any wishes to disinherit someone
• Whether part of your estate should go to charity

Depending on your situation, you might want an estate planning attorney to help guide the process, especially if you’re planning for specific needs or circumstances.

What happens if you don’t leave a will?

A lot of people avoid writing a will, whether it’s because it feels uncomfortable or they assume their family will work things out fairly. But that’s not always how it plays out, especially in complex families with former spouses, multiple kids, or extended relatives.

Without a legal document outlining your wishes, your estate is divided according to state intestacy laws. That can result in disputes, confusion, and broken relationships.

Talk to your family in advance

If your family has generally stable dynamics, it can help to have an open conversation about what to expect after you pass.

It doesn’t have to be dramatic or morbid, it can simply be about setting expectations. Surprising loved ones with major decisions in your will, like leaving everything to charity or cutting someone out, rarely ends well.

Being upfront helps prevent disputes and gives your family space to process everything without added shock or resentment.

Consider a no-contest clause

A “no-contest clause” in your will can discourage relatives from disputing its contents. In short, if someone challenges your will and loses, they could also lose their inheritance.

People may contest a will for reasons like:

• Feeling unfairly excluded
• Believing someone manipulated or pressured you
• Claiming there’s a more recent version
• Alleging fraud or forgery

These clauses don’t always hold up in court, so it’s smart to make sure the rest of your will is solid too.

Don’t put it off

The best time to make a will is sooner rather than later.

Even if you don’t have many assets, basic estate planning can make things easier for those you leave behind. Online forms are available, though people with significant assets might benefit from legal guidance.

Adding documents like a power of attorney or health care directive can also help ensure your wishes are followed—before and after you’re gone.

The woman later shared more details in the comments

Reddit thread discussing a woman taking her dad to court over a stolen $100K inheritance leaving him broke.

Reddit comments discussing a woman taking her dad to court over a stolen $100K inheritance dispute.

Reddit discussion about woman suing dad over stolen $100K inheritance and the resulting financial struggles.

Reddit conversation about woman suing dad over $100K stolen inheritance, leaving him financially broke.

Court case over $100K stolen inheritance leaves woman feeling zero guilt and her dad broke in family dispute.

Screenshot of a Reddit conversation discussing a woman taking her dad to court over a $100K stolen inheritance dispute.

Reddit thread showing a woman confronting her dad over $100K stolen inheritance, discussing guilt and family support.

Screenshot of online conversation where woman discusses taking dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance.

Reddit user discusses stolen inheritance and family trust concerns in a court case involving $100K and a broken family relationship.

Some readers felt she was completely justified in her actions

Woman takes dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance leaving him financially broke in a legal family dispute.

Reddit comment about woman confronting dad over stolen $100K inheritance, leaving him broke and feeling no guilt.

Reddit comment discussing a woman confronting her dad over a $100K stolen inheritance, causing his financial ruin.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a woman taking her dad to court over a stolen $100K inheritance dispute.

Alt text: Woman confronts dad in court over $100K stolen inheritance, leaving him financially broke and facing legal consequences

Reddit comment discussing woman taking dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance, leaving him financially broke.

Reddit comment discussing consequences after woman takes dad to court over $100K stolen inheritance dispute.

Comment discussing a woman taking her dad to court over a $100K stolen inheritance, citing greed and dishonesty.

Comment expressing pride in a woman taking her dad to court over stolen inheritance and fighting for justice.

Reddit comment stating they aren’t your kids and encouraging to live a great life in inheritance court context.

Text comment about a woman confronting her father over a $100K stolen inheritance causing conflict and financial ruin.

While others believed leaving the family with nothing was morally wrong

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing morality in a dispute about $100K stolen inheritance involving a woman and her dad.

Comment discussing the impact of taking dad to court over a $100K stolen inheritance and its effect on family stability.

Reddit comments discussing a woman taking her dad to court over a $100K stolen inheritance dispute.

Poll Question

Total votes ·

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

Newsletter

Subscribe to Access
Exclusive Polls

Subscribe

By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Privacy Policy.

Thank you! You've successfully subscribed to newsletters!

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda!