Ex-MIL claims we owe her money - What to do?!

dancingfairy

Anyone can take anyone to court if they pay the court fees. It can be a complete made up claim. Whether they a) are likely to bother and v) whether they would win are debatable points.
I would either text back saying come on, you know we don't owe the money , it was a gift to help with x,y,z and leave it at that or just ignore any references to any money owed ( I'm not suggesting ignoring her completely but just ignore the alleged money owed). If she feels the need to drag it to court then fine but I would try and avoid getting into discussions/ negotiations/ a text argument about it as it does no one any good really.
It's hard though as no doubt you are trying your best to remain civil.
I guess just trying and all remember to do the best for the child, its not about the partners falling out or the ex partner falling out with the mother in law. At the end of the day everyone is an adult and should be trying to put any rubbish aside for the sake of the child ( easier said than done).

Df.

gettingtheresometime

Being a devils advocate here but could the ex write a letter, back dating it agreeing to pay back his mother and the ex mil use this as evidence along with the texts?

Person_one

Judge Rinder would wrap this one up in about 5 minutes.

Its very very common for grandparents to help out with childcare costs/prams etc. Its not remotely common for them to demand repayment out of the blue three years later. I'm not any sort of legal expert, but I would have thought any sensible judge would see this as what it is, a grandmother who's fallen out with her ex-DIL and is being vindictive.

Mojisola

gettingtheresometime wrote: »

Being a devils advocate here but could the ex write a letter, back dating it agreeing to pay back his mother and the ex mil use this as evidence along with the texts?

If he did that, he would be liable to pay his mother back.

meritaten

I think that the money was given as a gift at the time. only after the break up did MIL think it was a 'loan'.
she hasn't asked for it back before so she will have a hard time proving she didn't gift the money.
I would do as other posters say - reply now saying that on reflection you believed it was a gift, and am not in any case in a position to pay back a loan. and let her go from there.

macman

If she wants to pursue it through small claims, then tell her she is free to do so. You neither have to pay, nor do you have to respond to her demands. Odds are you'll hear no more of it if you ignore her.
Don't waste the limited resources of the CAB either, they can add nothing to this.

McKneff

Judge Judy,


30 seconds


Balloney.


End of.....


Completel ignore, dump any phone or change numbers,

steph2901

I agree with others, this was a grandparent wanting to pay for her grandchild, it wasn't a loan! I'd reply and say that she's harassing you and could she please stop as you never agreed to any loan. Then I'd block her. I can't see any court making you pay this back as it was obviously a gift and now you've split, she's just doing this out of spite.

AndyBSG

Tell her you'll be happy to repay her as soon as she provides the signed loan agreement.

VfM4meplse

Let the ex-MIL stress whilst you stick the popcorn in the microwave