Question:
Hello, Jim! Hope you're doing well. I'm dealing with a family matter currently that I'm not sure how to navigate at all. Due to the virus, all of the legal resources available to me are working remotely and unavailable for immediate assistance. To sum up a long story... I have a vehicle in my name that I would like returned to me but the individual who has it, my father, isn't complying. We had a loose verbal agreement to where I'd put it under my name while he made payments (that's a much longer story) that I made on good faith. He missed constant payments to the point where I've paid more towards it than him simply to keep my credit intact and avoid wage garnishment with the military. He's saying I have to return the money or I won't get the car back. I want to be cordial and resolve it amicably but he's also threatening to call IG and my chain of command. I have no issues returning his money, but as a matter of character and integrity, I simply cannot trust that he will return the vehicle. He's also made numerous and explicit threats of physical harm so I cannot guarantee that I'd be able to retrieve the vehicle safely. Any insight at all appreciated! Thanks for your time. Respectfully, John
Jim's Reply:
I take a different view than most on situations like the one you describe. If it were me, I'd confess to myself that I made a mistake and I'd walk away from it. Sure, that's money gone forever and that's OK in my world. No matter if it's a Rolls or an old Hyundai, the money you'll lose is nothing compared to the peace you'll have knowing that you've settled...with yourself.
It's only money. Arguing with family over a few dollars is a dead end street...no happy endings.
Good luck.