Generation-skipping Trust

[tranquility]

I was a minor at the time, and had no direct contact with my own finances, which were handled by my mother. The original purchase was ten years ago.

At this point it seems all I can do is continue doing what I see fit with my instruments, and just shut up about it. I can't afford an attorney at this time, and don't even really want to know what kind of money may be coming to me in future, or what kind of sinister crap is going on behind my back. I don't feel any entitlement to anything except my instruments, and from what everyone has said, I am fully entitled to do with them what I see fit.

I did not say you can do what you want with the instruments. There are not enough facts to determine that. While unlikely, they could be the property of the trust.

 

[Kingwould496]

I did not say you can do what you want with the instruments. There are not enough facts to determine that. While unlikely, they could be the property of the trust.

Thanks for your continued replies. This is really more than I expected to get from a free legal advice forum.

What then, knowing I cannot afford to get an attorney, would be the safest course of action? Would it be best for me to try to distance myself from the instruments and simply purchase new with my own earnings?

 

[LdiJ]

Thanks for your continued replies. This is really more than I expected to get from a free legal advice forum.

What then, knowing I cannot afford to get an attorney, would be the safest course of action? Would it be best for me to try to distance myself from the instruments and simply purchase new with my own earnings?

Personally, I would do as I like with the instruments. The odds of them being the property of the trust are so slim that its negligible. Your worst case scenario, if they were somehow property of the trust, is that you would be liable for the depreciated value of the instruments.

 

[TrustUser]

plus, can you imagine a mom going after her own son for the cost of a few musical instruments ?

that in itself would speak volumes !!

 

[tranquility]

Personally, I would do as I like with the instruments. The odds of them being the property of the trust are so slim that its negligible. Your worst case scenario, if they were somehow property of the trust, is that you would be liable for the depreciated value of the instruments.

The fair market value of the instruments.

 

[commentator]

Oh I have seen SO many people say what you say, "I cannot afford an attorney!" I've heard this so many times from divorcing couples. And a few times, including in my own situation, with overcontrolling parents.

This is crazy when here you are dealing with a large source of your current and future income and issues that will affect your life for a long time to come, and you have basically rolled over and let your mother tell you what for all these years. And now you're worried about whether she's going to send the police to your door to take away something they bought for you years ago with this trust money? Oh come on! How much do you think an attorney would cost, anyhow?

As long as you dodge it and try to manage it from advice forums and hearsay stuff and what people tell you and what you've heard in the past... you're still a child and still letting your mother control you. If it were as she says, and you were only to get as much as she dictates, she'd be delighted to let you see the trust papers to prove what she's telling you!

Part of becoming a responsible adult is hiring your own legal representation and dealing with your controlling mother as a peer, not as a cringing child. Dealing with this issue in an adult manner may even improve your relationship with your mother, as she may learn you are no longer a child to be bullied and lied to. "It's not in language YOU could understand" is plain old insulting verbally abusive meanly intended garbage. usually the type of behavior that indicates Mom is running scared and is trying to bark enough to warn you off something she really doesn't want you to find out. If you become romantically involved with someone, I hope the first thing they insist on is that you drag yourself to an attorney and get it established exactly what you do and do not have in this trust and what it says.

 

[Kingwould496]

Oh I have seen SO many people say what you say, "I cannot afford an attorney!" I've heard this so many times from divorcing couples. And a few times, including in my own situation, with overcontrolling parents.

This is crazy when here you are dealing with a large source of your current and future income and issues that will affect your life for a long time to come, and you have basically rolled over and let your mother tell you what for all these years. And now you're worried about whether she's going to send the police to your door to take away something they bought for you years ago with this trust money? Oh come on! How much do you think an attorney would cost, anyhow?

As long as you dodge it and try to manage it from advice forums and hearsay stuff and what people tell you and what you've heard in the past... you're still a child and still letting your mother control you. If it were as she says, and you were only to get as much as she dictates, she'd be delighted to let you see the trust papers to prove what she's telling you!

Part of becoming a responsible adult is hiring your own legal representation and dealing with your controlling mother as a peer, not as a cringing child. Dealing with this issue in an adult manner may even improve your relationship with your mother, as she may learn you are no longer a child to be bullied and lied to. "It's not in language YOU could understand" is plain old insulting verbally abusive meanly intended garbage. usually the type of behavior that indicates Mom is running scared and is trying to bark enough to warn you off something she really doesn't want you to find out. If you become romantically involved with someone, I hope the first thing they insist on is that you drag yourself to an attorney and get it established exactly what you do and do not have in this trust and what it says.

Your point is well taken.

The documents are now on their way, and mom is changing her story, while throwing every possible emotional manipulation at me she can muster. I've "permanently scarred" our relationship with my "vicious and unethical attack" on her.

I should receive the package tomorrow and will consult a lawyer regarding my rights and privileges in the matter. Thank you all for you advice and insights.

 

[TrustUser]

let us know what she is hiding, when you find out.

 

[CSO286]

plus, can you imagine a mom going after her own son for the cost of a few musical instruments ?

that in itself would speak volumes !!

High end musical instruments could very well run into tens of thousands of dollars.

Antiques or ones used/made by famous artists--hundreds of thousands of dollars.....