Retrieving Personal Belongings from Parents - 24 yrs old

[jwill2287]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia

My girlfriend rather abruptly, it was unplanned at the time, moved out of her parents' home a little over a month ago. She didn't have an opportunity to go and get any of her belongings. She had some items here already so she has been able to survive. She has a lot of clothes and other personal items that were either gifted to her or she paid for herself. Her parents have refused to give any of it back to her or let her take any of it. They have actually taken her things out of the house and placed them in a storage unit. They also are refusing to give back her graduation money, in the neighborhood of $1000, which consists of cash and checks made out to my girlfriend. She just recently (about 15 minutes ago) got off of the phone with her mother, and her mother told her that they would rip up the graduation money in her face next week. She has asked them repeatedly via e-mail, text, and in person for both her belongings and the graduation money, but they are not budging. Her parents just have a big problem with me even though I've done nothing wrong to make them be so spiteful towards me and my girlfriend. What are my girlfriend's legal options to attempt to get her things back?

It is my understanding, after doing some research, that the items gifted to my girlfriend and bought by her are her property, therefore her parents can't legally keep them from her. The graduation money I'm unsure about, but I believe they are technically gifts. We just don't know what to legally do in order to get them back.

Thank you.

 

[Just Blue]

Tell your GF to go to small claims court and sue mommy/daddy Dearest.

 

[jwill2287]

So small claims court is the route we need to take? We can't just get a police escort to retrieve her things?

We need to go to the courthouse and file some sort of civil paperwork?

 

[Just Blue]

So small claims court is the route we need to take? We can't just get a police escort to retrieve her things?

We need to go to the courthouse and file some sort of civil paperwork?

question 1. yes
2. you could ask...doubt they will do it tho
3. Yes. File in small claims court.

 

[anteater]

So small claims court is the route we need to take? We can't just get a police escort to retrieve her things?

We need to go to the courthouse and file some sort of civil paperwork?

You realize that there is no "we" here, right?

So, who is 24? You or your girlfriend?

 

[jwill2287]

Well it's habit. She is going to have to do all of this stuff, but I'm still trying to help her understand it all and let her know what her options are.

My girlfriend is 24.

 

[Mark Maroon]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia
Thank you.

The best legal advice that you and your girlfriend will get is as follows:

This is not a legal issue.

You and your girlfriend will hopefully live a long and happy life (maybe together, maybe not). Her clothes and $1,000 may seem like a big deal right now in the context of heated emotions etcetera, but they are NOTHING over a lifetime. Forget it. In the grand scheme of things your girlfriend's parents don't have any material items of value that your girlfriend wants or needs. In the long term, you will realize that the relationship is worth more than those material items. Trust me, no matter how bad the relationship, even if it is REALLY bad, it is the relationship that is costly (good or bad), not these material items.

If you were talking $100,000.00 then maybe I would think differently.

 

[Just Blue]

Well it's habit. She is going to have to do all of this stuff, but I'm still trying to help her understand it all and let her know what her options are.

My girlfriend is 24.

Then she has been a LEGAL ADULT for SIX years...Tell her to put on her big girl panties and find out for herself.

 

[jwill2287]

The best legal advice that you and your girlfriend will get is as follows:

This is not a legal issue.

You and your girlfriend will hopefully live a long and happy life (maybe together, maybe not). Her clothes and $1,000 may seem like a big deal right now in the context of heated emotions etcetera, but they are NOTHING over a lifetime. Forget it. In the grand scheme of things your girlfriend's parents don't have any material items of value that your girlfriend wants or needs. In the long term, you will realize that the relationship is worth more than those material items. Trust me, no matter how bad the relationship, even if it is REALLY bad, it is the relationship that is costly (good or bad), not these material items.

If you were talking $100,000.00 then maybe I would think differently.

While I don't disagree with the overall gist of your response, there are actually a couple of items in there that hold personal value to me and my girlfriend. Specifically gifts that I have given her. Those are what I personally would like to get back. The clothes and other things we can replace over time obviously, but I can't replace the sentimental value of those gifts. Not sure if that changes your mind or thought at all but thought it was worth noting.

 

[jwill2287]

Then she has been a LEGAL ADULT for SIX years...Tell her to put on her big girl panties and find out for herself.

Lol if you only knew...

 

[Just Blue]

Lol if you only knew...

lol..I don;t know...nor do I wish to. I am giving the same advice I would to my own 24 year old daughter. Who. BTW, would never ask another to get info for her. She has been dealing with all issues in her life for 8 years.

 

[jwill2287]

lol..I don;t know...nor do I wish to. I am giving the same advice I would to my own 24 year old daughter. Who. BTW, would never ask another to get info for her. She has been dealing with all issues in her life for 8 years.

If her parents had taken that same approach with her then we probably wouldn't be in this position.

 

[cbg]

While I don't disagree with the overall jest of your response, there are actually a couple of items in there that hold personal value to me and my girlfriend. Specifically gifts that I have given her. Those are what I personally would like to get back. The clothes and other things we can replace over time obviously, but I can't replace the sentimental value of those gifts. Not sure if that changes your mind or thought at all but thought it was worth noting.

The law does not change because the gifts have sentimental value. The options are still the same.

 

[Just Blue]

If her parents had taken that same approach with her then we probably wouldn't be in this position.

But you don't have too. You are choosing to. You are becomming "daddy" to her. Stop. Tell her to deal with it herself. She is 24 for Gods Sake!! I was a mother at that age! And by the way..YOU keep "jr" covered. Your GF is not ready to be a mother...Use two types of protection. ...N!! THREE!

 

[anteater]

While I don't disagree with the overall jest of your response, ...

Just so you know... It's gist, not jest.

I don't think that Mark Maroon was jesting.