Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

I think its a bluff, lawyer told them to throw some legal terms and threats at your dad.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

This.

Even if you can 100% prove it is a legit letter that still doesnt make it worth anything. If there was an expectation he would have gotten the set then the will would, or should, have specifically said so.

As it stands at best Richard has won a piece of paper and something to gripe about until he dies.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

link richard to this thread pls

also, those bags get nothing

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

+2

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Trade chess set for either her first or 2nd draft pick.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Wouldn't this just encourage legal action since now Richard wouldn't have to pay for a lawyer?

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Did your dad pick the chess set just to annoy your aunt?

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

What kind of threats though? For all intents and purposes, OP has handled the trust legally and ethically. Which is all that can be asked of him.

This is immaterial. He selected the item fair and square as per the instructions in the trust. He could have said "I'm picking the chess set just to piss you two off and I'm going ot take a crap on it then throw it off a building" and it still wouldn't matter.

IANAL - maybe it would matter lol

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Also, can't OP ask those 2 and their lawyer to stop harassing him? This trust should not be his raison d'etre ffs. He has done his job and now he's being harassed because he won't act hastily and in an unethical manner.? WTF?

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

I originally was going to say something almost exactly like this. However, I decided the simpler the better. My actual response was:

I don't think there is anything else I can do at that point that I haven't already attempted.

If they want me to elaborate, I certainly will. But at this point, I want them to know that I plan no further actions, nor did I want to throw my father under the bus on an email that was going to the lawyers.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Do Richard, Betty, or the Aunt have much more money than sense? If so, I suppose they could actually try to sue somebody just cause they're pissed, and that would suck. But if you know they're cheap (and I bet those cockbiters are), you shouldn't have to worry much about actually getting sued and can safely ignore any communications from them that aren't actual demands from attorneys.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Thanks for the kind words. I share your sentiments about my Aunt's family. Until now, Richard had actually stayed out of this - it was his sister and mother being the douches. But the threat of a lawsuit has brought him down to their level.

It has been a very stress-filled day and I think the absuridity of it all has helped me to not go super mega tilt. (However, my wife asked me politely NOT to share any more of the story with her as it makes her want to strangle every one of them).

I agree that this pseudo document two years after the fact seems like it shouldn't bear much legal weight. I asked Betty if she explained the document to Harry. She said yes, but I'm beginning to think she didn't describe the situation fully. I have a bunch of lawyer friends I'm going to bounce this off tomorrow, and see if Richards claims have any chance of winning.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

i would not give up the chess set without getting equal value in return and no the money already in the trust doesn't count.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

If this lady keeps hating on you, make up your own phoney document that says this:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/KSteel/oldman2.jpg

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

This is the correct answer.

What state is this taking place in, op?

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

OP,

What you should do, on behalf of the estate, is contact every state's bar and market this situation as a bar exam question. You'll be able to buy Betty, Dick, and Harry their own chess sets, each with a group of live midgets as the pawns.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

This mysterious "letter" has no bearing at all to the case. The chess set should stay with Dad. A super LOL to the "we split up stuff so now it's all invalid" argument. Unless that stuff was specifically mentioned inside the wills, it wouldn't change anything about the trust, or the chess set.

Everybody in this scenario is being ******ed, but the set is legally Dads, and this LOL hail mary doesn't change that at all.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

I am in California, as were my grandparents. (The lawyer is in California too). The Aunt's family lives in Oregon.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

"Find" a new note from your Grandma stating her final wish was to have you slap your aunt and kick Richard in the nuts.. A couple times..

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

challenge R to chess, when he shows up slap some sense into him. i'm in the camp with the people thinking the aunt forged the note. who would write a note like that for a single item and not even bother to sign/date it either? doesn't pass the smell test.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

does not compute, and clearly puts betty in the wrong.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Dick gets dick. I love your dad's earth crumble into hell line, I will add using that line to my bucket list.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

Sure it does.
I need to remember this. When I get old, and if my kids hate each other, making my life hell and keeping me from having decent family get togethers in my final years, no way in hell am i not writing a few questionable notes granting random high value things to random people. Hide them around in books and such to be found after stuff was given out using other means, and the plan is complete. See if I can get the little bastards to finally come to blows.

On a more serious note. I was leaning towards giving it to Richard until I saw he would accept cash. If it's not a sentimental thing, screw him, Father has full claim to it.

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

"Hey dad, I wouldn't dream of telling you to bury the hatchet with your sister, but for my sake, since I'm the executor, and I've been stuck in the middle of this for two years now and want nothing more at this point than to never have to see or speak to any of that side of the family ever again, can you please please please just do what we all know grandma had in mind to begin with and give Richard the damn chess set? I don't really care if those pricks would see it as some sort of victory over you; it would make my life, your son's life, a hell of a lot less stressful. Please consider it. Love, Unicornface."

Edit: "P.S. I will **** in a box and FedEx it to your sister the instant I find out you have given the chess set to Richard."

Re: Dispute over family chess set - need OOT Input
 

If your Dad thinks that your grandparents really wanted the Chess set to go to their grandson he should give the thing to your cousin. But if he thinks this is just a ploy by them to get an extra item then I would just tell them to F off.