Gift given in error

newbie2010

Forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong place.
Around 5 years ago my aunt died. Besides a small amount of money left to me by my aunt, my cousins gave me a silver and a gold bracelet 'to remember my aunt by'.
My cousin has contacted me recently to ask me to give her the gold bracelet back as a friend of my aunts is saying it was not my cousins to give away and it actually belonged to her. My cousin is claiming she made a mistake at a very low time in her life as my aunt died young and suddenly.
I believe a gift cannot be revoked and I don't think this friend has any proof of ownership (as I believe she actually bought it as a gift for my aunt) but am I within my rights to keep it? It is not a very valuable piece, although priceless to me, so I don't understand why now after 5 years she is staking a claim on it.
Many thanks in advance.

McKneff

I would have thought she would have to prove it belonged to her. If it did how come your aunt had it in her possession.

Personally, I would tell her to do one.

If there any reason why you think it was a gift from her to your aunt, I agree, it sounds like it.

5 years, sounds a bit suss to me.

bestpud

If she gave it to your aunt as a gift then it no longer belongs to her so she has no claim on it.

Are you sure your cousins don't regret giving it away and now want it as a reminder of their mum?

If that is the case then maybe you could return it as you have two of them?

When my nan died I was supposed to have her wedding ring - that's what she wanted and it was always how it would be. However, in the end my aunt took and wore it as she'd broken her own wedding ring and it reminded her of her mum. I was ok with that tbh as I could see she it would be cherished. Sometimes things just aren't clear cut.

In your case, I'd want to know who actually wants it and why.

McKneff

Bestpud, I believe that there is only one bracelet made of silver and gold,

newbie2010

Sorry if my OP was confusing. There were two bracelets. A small cheap one made of silver and a gold gate bracelet. My mind being suspicious thinks either my cousin or the friend of my aunts only wants the bracelet back for gold value. The bracelet was in my cousins possession as she took over my aunts house after her death and my aunt was divorced so all items in the house not listed in the will went to my cousins.
Thanks for the replies so far. I am close to telling her where she can stick it.

cookie54

have you had it valued to see what its worth ?

pinkladyof66

i would say go do one - after 5 years they are having a laugh aint they - maybe after 5 weeks

Comyface

pinkladyof66 wrote: »

i would say go do one - after 5 years they are having a laugh aint they - maybe after 5 weeks

I agree with this. What if you didn't have it any more? Would they ask you for money?

No, it belongs to you.

January20

It sounds really fishy after 5 years. Are you sure the gold bracelet has no value at all? I have the feeling it may have more monetary value than you think and that is why the cousin/ friend want it back. Whatever the reason, I think it's very cheeky for any of them to ask for it back after all this time, and yes I would say that you are well within your right to refuse. (Also, if you agree to give the bracelet back, will they then want the silver one back too, and then the money?)

marywooyeah

January20 wrote: »

It sounds really fishy after 5 years. Are you sure the gold bracelet has no value at all? I have the feeling it may have more monetary value than you think and that is why the cousin/ friend want it back.

I think this too - if they've known you've had the gold bracelet all this time why ask for it now? sounds like a monetary motive to me. I'd tell them it was given to you to remember your aunt by and that's exactly what you'll be doing with it, not giving it back to them for them to do whatever they want with.

go_cat

You could tell them you have sold it and see what reaction you get ...;)

If genuinely upset then they want the bracelet for more sentimental reasons if ask for the money well.............