17 Y.O. Found Out Mom And Stepdad Purchased A House Using His Inheritance Money From Dad, Later Exposed The Man In Front Of His Visiting Family
While there are a lot of things that have the potential and power to do so, an inheritance is probably one of the most notorious things that brings out the worst in people.
After all, money calls out a lot of things in humans: everything from greed to pride to envy… nearly the entire rainbow of sins and then some.
So, you can guess what’s coming next as this Am I The A-Hole? story is exactly that, a story of inheritance and what looks like greed in disguise.
More Info: Reddit
An inheritance is probably one of the most notorious things that brings out the worst in people
Image source: Andy Black (not the actual photo)
So, meet u/reddit_randouser, a 17-year-old lad who lost his father 2 years back, and now lives with his mother and step-dad. Turns out, he is also set to get an inheritance when he turns 18.
However, one day the whole family, having lived in a 3-bedroom apartment, decided to move into a new home, which was a whole huge house. For OP, this seemed a tad bit weird as his mother is a part-time receptionist, and his step-dad is a substitute teacher. How could they afford a house at this point?
Well, Randouser did also notice the guilty look on his mom’s face one day, and she finally admitted that she had actually tapped into the inheritance fund, which was all OP’s, by the way, and used it to buy the house they live in.
And a recent story from a 17 y.o. inheritance beneficiary whose fortunes are being wasted against his will perfectly exemplifies this
Image source: reddit_randouser
Needless to say, OP was not happy about this. The parents did try to justify that the house was for him, but he questioned if they will be moving out when he turns 18, and the answer was no. Heck, they didn’t even consult with him about it, just straight up used the money and end of discussion. So, it’s all just for them, not him.
But this is context. The last straw was one Saturday, when OP was getting ready for work in the morning. Some of step-dad’s family were visiting, and they stayed over through to the morning, so here comes step-dad into the kitchen where OP is getting some breakfast, and asks if he’s gonna prepare it for everyone.
Randouser wouldn’t have been able to prepare food for everyone without running late for work, to which the dad responded that it’s no big deal if he is late for work—it’s not every day that family visits, so it’s justified.
Image source: reddit_randouser
The conversation went back and forth, and the situation escalated to a degree where the dad effectively said “don’t you talk to me like that in my house.” You can see the comeback that is a-brewin’.
OP said that it is technically his house as it was bought with his money. Mind you, the kitchen does not have a door, so the visiting family members heard it all. And now the mom is expecting an apology from him because this apparently embarrassed them and everyone had a lot to say about it once OP left for work.
The family was no longer there once he came back, but the issue was still on as there was still a lot of tension in the air with the mom demanding he apologizes and the step-dad not even talking to him. And OP doesn’t feel like he has anything to apologize for here, but given the situation, he still turned to the AITA community for some perspective.
The AITA community responded in unison, saying that OP is not a jerk, and that he should seek legal advice
Image source: Angie Garrett (not the actual photo)
Now, one thing you have to know about the community is that it can be cruel, but they are still a hivemind-like voice of reason that will feel the brevity of the situation and act accordingly. And that they did.
Everyone was of the opinion that OP is right to have done what he has, and an overwhelming majority of folks have also suggested getting legal advice and help from someone who could bring justice in this situation. But whatever he did, he was advised to not cause any more trouble, just lay low with his emotions and reactions so as to not add complications to the case as it can quickly turn against him.
The Good-Guy AITA community also gave OP loads of Reddit karma in the form of 20,700 upvotes and a bit over 20 Reddit awards.
You can check out the post and all of the reactions to it on Reddit here, and you can also peruse all of the other Am I The A-Hole stories that we have covered in the past here. But do please voice your opinions about who’s right, who’s wrong, or what the next best step would be here in the comment section below!
They're going to regret that decision...that money was left for him and her job was to protect it until he is an adult. So if that house isn't titled to him and it shows that money was removed from the inheritance to buy it they're going to have to sell it or sign it over.
Surprised this wasn't set up in a trust fund only accessible at a certain age. Isn't that how it's usually done?
It was set up so that the trust would be released to OP at the age of 18, but since OP was still under age, it likely was set up with the mother as a custodian of the trust. And she is gonna be in some serious trouble - the OP is going to contact his godparent for help.
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NTA just because she birthed you don’t give her any right to pull this s**t. Family can be the absolute worse in these situations. Seek legal advice .
It kinda cracks me up how everyone has to put their 2 cents in for the original post replies.. Almost everyone has the exact same advice. Find a lawyer. If that lawyer isn't the right one for the job, they will know one that is. He needs a supportive adult as well, hopefully he can contact his godfather sooner rather than later as well.
Yes, lawyer. If you have any paternal relatives at all, try to get them to help you. Unfortunately, this is not that uncommon. I know a guy whose mother stole his condo when he was abroad because he gave her his power of attorney. He only got a fraction of its value back because he didn’t have the stomach to involve the police. That’s what they are counting on - that they can make you feel so bad that you won’t do anything or risk the relationship. My friend no longer speaks to his mother and very much regrets settling for so little now that he is older and understands what an advantage owning the condo would have been.
The only silver lining in this is when the kid does lawyer up and they are forced to sell the house, he'll have more money than dad left them since home prices are skyrocketing. Hopefully the money will cover the college he actually wants to go to since it sounds like that's the reason dad set the money aside.
All these people saying "get a lawyer", do you have ANY idea the up front cost of a lawsuit like that? I doubt that kid has $10,000 to even start the suit with a lawyer!
In a case like this there are many lawyers who would take it for a much smaller retainer as it looks like a goodwill gesture.
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get a lawyer i take it your parents were divorced. idk how they even managed to get there hands on your money. with out you knowing about it from someone you better start now before everything is gone. and that house would also become mine and i would kick them to the curb. there interest is not what is best for you it is what is best for them.
When my sister was taking care of my Dad, he gave her power of attorney over his finances, but everything she took out of his accounts had to be approved by the estate lawyer when it came to major accounts like his IRA. Talk to a lawyer because, even if they had bought the house for you...it should have been put in your name due to the fact that the funds were from an estate left by your Dad...they had no right to it. You can actually take them to court and sure them for the money back. Just make sure the money is returned to the estate and not you personally.
You have very strong, oldschool attitude - keep it up, but play the long game. Never let them take away what's legally yours. Sue them, make they life an absolute misery for next two decades or so. Depends on the legal outcome - if house is actually yours, you can...keep raising their rent, you know?
Regrettably similar things happen too often. Money does strange things to some people. The worst though is when a parent steals from their children. The person they should trust the most betrays them. Straight up trash regardless of the circumstances.
My God, in Greece the mother and stepfather killed a bloke for a similar reason. Then they buried the body and filled a missing person report. It was wild.
Can't understand how a mom could turn the back for her child and nor her husband
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You ever get the feeling some of these AITA posts are written by psychologists and sociologists catfishing the public?
Um… no. That specific feeling I can honestly say I’ve never had.
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I was orphaned at 15 and lived with my Aunt & Uncle until I turned 18. The money that was put in trust for me was untouchable. They had to get a court order to get money for me for braces, then later a car. I think this POS Stepdad and worse POS mother are doing something they shouldn't. It's too bad no one for the family stuck around to help him with this as they obviously knew it was wrong.
Ew f those people. Get a lawyer and kick them out on their a*s.
Is that legal? I'm guessing it is, when the mother was the custodian of the fund. How ludicrous that the stepdad is offended for being called out as the thief he is. If the poster won't get his money back or the house, he should burn it down, when he leaves.
He can't because they put the house in their names. That's why he needs a lawyer.
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Lawyer up and get your money back so you can afford to go off to college and learn proper sentence structure and grammar. Oof.
How is he going to get his money? The house is in his mom's and stepdad's name. If his name was on the title he would have known long before the purchase was finalized. I believe it's called conversion. And certainly if mom was the trustee, she failed her fiduciary duty by pulling money out of the trust and putting it in her name.
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Did you not read it or what? They used his inheritance to buy a house for them. It's not in his name, it's not his house.
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They're going to regret that decision...that money was left for him and her job was to protect it until he is an adult. So if that house isn't titled to him and it shows that money was removed from the inheritance to buy it they're going to have to sell it or sign it over.
Surprised this wasn't set up in a trust fund only accessible at a certain age. Isn't that how it's usually done?
It was set up so that the trust would be released to OP at the age of 18, but since OP was still under age, it likely was set up with the mother as a custodian of the trust. And she is gonna be in some serious trouble - the OP is going to contact his godparent for help.
Load More Replies... NTA just because she birthed you don’t give her any right to pull this s**t. Family can be the absolute worse in these situations. Seek legal advice .
It kinda cracks me up how everyone has to put their 2 cents in for the original post replies.. Almost everyone has the exact same advice. Find a lawyer. If that lawyer isn't the right one for the job, they will know one that is. He needs a supportive adult as well, hopefully he can contact his godfather sooner rather than later as well.
Yes, lawyer. If you have any paternal relatives at all, try to get them to help you. Unfortunately, this is not that uncommon. I know a guy whose mother stole his condo when he was abroad because he gave her his power of attorney. He only got a fraction of its value back because he didn’t have the stomach to involve the police. That’s what they are counting on - that they can make you feel so bad that you won’t do anything or risk the relationship. My friend no longer speaks to his mother and very much regrets settling for so little now that he is older and understands what an advantage owning the condo would have been.
The only silver lining in this is when the kid does lawyer up and they are forced to sell the house, he'll have more money than dad left them since home prices are skyrocketing. Hopefully the money will cover the college he actually wants to go to since it sounds like that's the reason dad set the money aside.
All these people saying "get a lawyer", do you have ANY idea the up front cost of a lawsuit like that? I doubt that kid has $10,000 to even start the suit with a lawyer!
In a case like this there are many lawyers who would take it for a much smaller retainer as it looks like a goodwill gesture.
Load More Replies... get a lawyer i take it your parents were divorced. idk how they even managed to get there hands on your money. with out you knowing about it from someone you better start now before everything is gone. and that house would also become mine and i would kick them to the curb. there interest is not what is best for you it is what is best for them.
When my sister was taking care of my Dad, he gave her power of attorney over his finances, but everything she took out of his accounts had to be approved by the estate lawyer when it came to major accounts like his IRA. Talk to a lawyer because, even if they had bought the house for you...it should have been put in your name due to the fact that the funds were from an estate left by your Dad...they had no right to it. You can actually take them to court and sure them for the money back. Just make sure the money is returned to the estate and not you personally.
You have very strong, oldschool attitude - keep it up, but play the long game. Never let them take away what's legally yours. Sue them, make they life an absolute misery for next two decades or so. Depends on the legal outcome - if house is actually yours, you can...keep raising their rent, you know?
Regrettably similar things happen too often. Money does strange things to some people. The worst though is when a parent steals from their children. The person they should trust the most betrays them. Straight up trash regardless of the circumstances.
My God, in Greece the mother and stepfather killed a bloke for a similar reason. Then they buried the body and filled a missing person report. It was wild.
Can't understand how a mom could turn the back for her child and nor her husband
Load More Replies... You ever get the feeling some of these AITA posts are written by psychologists and sociologists catfishing the public?
Um… no. That specific feeling I can honestly say I’ve never had.
Load More Replies... I was orphaned at 15 and lived with my Aunt & Uncle until I turned 18. The money that was put in trust for me was untouchable. They had to get a court order to get money for me for braces, then later a car. I think this POS Stepdad and worse POS mother are doing something they shouldn't. It's too bad no one for the family stuck around to help him with this as they obviously knew it was wrong.
Ew f those people. Get a lawyer and kick them out on their a*s.
Is that legal? I'm guessing it is, when the mother was the custodian of the fund. How ludicrous that the stepdad is offended for being called out as the thief he is. If the poster won't get his money back or the house, he should burn it down, when he leaves.
He can't because they put the house in their names. That's why he needs a lawyer.
Load More Replies... Lawyer up and get your money back so you can afford to go off to college and learn proper sentence structure and grammar. Oof.
How is he going to get his money? The house is in his mom's and stepdad's name. If his name was on the title he would have known long before the purchase was finalized. I believe it's called conversion. And certainly if mom was the trustee, she failed her fiduciary duty by pulling money out of the trust and putting it in her name.
Load More Replies... Did you not read it or what? They used his inheritance to buy a house for them. It's not in his name, it's not his house.
Load More Replies... 
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