What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? South Carolina
I purchased an item from a family member through a private sale 7+ years ago - I am now getting threats of a personal suit for return of this possession to the original owner. Do they have a case?
Background - 7+ years ago a family member was facing some large attorney fees on a federal charge and needed some extra money. They offered to sell me a firearm of theirs that I already had in my possession and I gave them the money. I contacted SC SLED at the time and asked what documentation was required to transfer the ownership and register it in my name, but SC does not file private sales, so there was no documentation required by the state. The family member has since then told another family member that they could have the firearm for some amount of money, received the money, and then informed my husband that he needed to hand over the firearm to this other person who lives in another state or they would file charges/civil suit against him to get its return - he has never been in possession of the firearm, only me, but the are making the threats against him.
I know that there is the old saying of possession being 9/10th the law, but does that really mean anything in this matter or is there a case here when it was a verbal transaction in excess of 7 years? What do we need to do to protect ourselves in this matter?
I purchased an item from a family member through a private sale 7+ years ago - I am now getting threats of a personal suit for return of this possession to the original owner. Do they have a case?
Background - 7+ years ago a family member was facing some large attorney fees on a federal charge and needed some extra money. They offered to sell me a firearm of theirs that I already had in my possession and I gave them the money. I contacted SC SLED at the time and asked what documentation was required to transfer the ownership and register it in my name, but SC does not file private sales, so there was no documentation required by the state. The family member has since then told another family member that they could have the firearm for some amount of money, received the money, and then informed my husband that he needed to hand over the firearm to this other person who lives in another state or they would file charges/civil suit against him to get its return - he has never been in possession of the firearm, only me, but the are making the threats against him.
I know that there is the old saying of possession being 9/10th the law, but does that really mean anything in this matter or is there a case here when it was a verbal transaction in excess of 7 years? What do we need to do to protect ourselves in this matter?