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You're 'Choosing A House Over Family' — Dad Asks For $15K Gift Back To Help Girlfriend's Son, But 28-Year-Old Refuses To Budge
Yahoo Finance· 2025-09-20 17:01
Core Points - A conflict arose when a father requested the return of a $15,000 gift intended for a home down payment, which he wanted redirected to help his girlfriend's son with legal issues [1][3] - The woman had already used the funds for closing costs and deposits, leading to a family dispute over the nature of the gift [2][4] - The situation sparked a broader online debate about the definition of a gift versus a loan, with differing opinions on family obligations [6] Summary by Sections - **Initial Gift and Purpose** - The father gifted $15,000 in February with the intention of helping his daughter and fiancé purchase their first home [2] - The couple successfully found a house by April, and the funds were placed in a joint account for the mortgage [2] - **Request for Return** - The father later requested the money back to assist his girlfriend's son, stating that "family comes first" [3] - The daughter explained that returning the funds would jeopardize their home purchase and incur significant fees [3] - **Family Dispute** - The father's accusation of prioritizing a house over family escalated the situation into a wider family conflict [4] - Family members were divided, with some labeling the daughter as selfish while others supported her right to keep the gift [5] - **Online Discussion** - The Reddit thread expanded to discuss the legitimacy of reclaiming gifts, with many asserting that gifts are final unless specified otherwise [6] - The debate highlighted the tension between personal goals and family obligations [6]