Woman Robbed by Late Husband's Family, She Sells His Prized Car in Retaliation

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Aug 14, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

Welcome back, ladies. When a loved one passes away, the mundane things that they left behind become precious to us. Something as ordinary as a well-worn pair of socks, an old movie theater ticket, or a used pen can hold profound memories. Things that were important to them while they were alive basically become sacred. Even if we don't have the same interests as our late loved one, getting rid of their beloved possessions is sometimes out of the question. Perhaps these objects do no provide their intended value to us, but they are sentimental, nostalgic, and comforting.

In our story today, after getting robbed (literally - they broke into her house) of her late husband's possessions by his family, our protagonist sells his beloved car instead of gifting or selling it to her greedy in-laws. Because she did not use it very much and it was beginning to rust and rot, she figured she could sell it to someone else so that they could love it just as much as her husband did. Read below for the details.

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  • 01
    TWO TAKE r/TwoHotTakes u/Careless-Apartment-1.5d AITA for not telling my late husband's family I was selling his vehicle?
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  • 02
    Some background information is needed before I get into the actual situation. I (33F) lost my husband two months after our wedding. We met when we were 13 and we got married 13 years later when we were 26. We grew up together. His parents weren't very good with money and they always struggled. He made it his goal to be successful and stable. Because he was always saving money, he was always expected to help out his parents and his younger brothers. Once we got engaged and bought a house together
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  • 03
    We got married in September, and he was killed in a car accident while working in November. My entire world flipped upside down that day. Thankfully, I have an amazing family that immediately dropped everything to support me. I hoped that his family. and I could grieve his loss together.
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  • 04
    At first his family kept saying they'd take care of me, that they'd do whatever it took to help me keep our house. As soon as his funeral was over though, that all changed. His parents took a majority of the money from the cards we received at the funeral because they weren't working and needed it for bills. I had a pending lawsuit against the driver that caused the accident. They found out that they were entitled to a portion of whatever settlement I received, so they started hounding me for up
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  • 05
    His dad and his brothers started dividing up his belongings without saying anything to me. At first it was things like his hunting gear, his rifles, his fishing gear. It was all stuff I planned on giving to them since I wouldn't be able to use it. Once all of that was gone, they started asking for more. Tools, clothes, shoes, vinyl records, small appliances, our boats, our riding mower, his snowmobiles, even his wedding band! Some things I let them have, some they took while I wasn't home, and s
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  • 06
    This is where the vehicle comes in. We had a car that we shared. He traveled for work, so I mostly drove it. Unfortunately, I got into an accident during an ice storm and totaled the car. We went looking for a new vehicle and he found the truck he always wanted. It was older, owned and garage kept by and older man, had a manual transmission, and low miles. It wasn't super practical as an everyday driver, but he had talked about finding a truck like this for years. I told him to get it, and after
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  • 07
    After his death, I couldn't part with his truck. I paid it off and I got myself the practical car we discussed getting. I kept his truck to drive on special occasions. Over the years, many people offered to buy it from me, but I couldn't do it. His brother asked me multiple times to just give it to him because he "shouldn't have to buy his brother's stuff." I said no, I wanted it and that was it.
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  • 08
    It's been 8 years since my husband was killed. I'm low contact/no contact with most of his family as I realized just how toxic they were for me. I still have his truck. I do my best to keep it maintained, but it's just sitting. I only drive it 3-4 times per year. It still holds significant sentimental value to me, but it's starting to rust and rot. I don't have a garage to keep it in. I just started talking to my mom about selling it to someone who will love it and care for it the way my husband
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  • 09
    My problem is that there's a part of me that feels like I should let my husband's family know I'm going to sell it. My family and friends say no, they took enough from me, and they'll just want it for nothing. So Reddit, would I be the if I sold the truck without offering it to them?
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  • 10
    TLDR: Would I be the if I sold my late husband's dream truck without offering it to his toxic family after they took most of his belongings "to have something to remember him by"? Editing to add some clarification: Thank you all so much for all of the comments! I appreciate each and every one more than I can say!
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  • 11
    1. Some of you were wondering why my husband's parents were entitled to a portion of his estate. Some of you were also worried that his parents were tricking me or that I just made this story up. The reason my husband's parents were entitled to a portion of his estate is because he did not have a will, we did not have children, and we lived in Pennsylvania. In PA, the law states that if the deceased does not have a will and does not have children, the first $30,000 of an estate goes to the survi
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  • 12
    2.I sold the house that we had together. His parents and my parents each had a key to our house just in case. We had two dogs, my husband was gone for work 2-3 weeks every month, and we were having work done on the house. There were times I would be gone for longer than expected and needed someone to take care of our dogs or times when the workers needed to be let in and I had to work. That's why they all had keys. As soon as I found out they were going to my house while I was at work and taking
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  • 13
    3. Why didn't I call the cops on them or report them for theft? Because I was struggling. I believed they were my family, I felt horrible that they lost a child/brother, I questioned if I was being selfish for wanting to keep his belongings. I'm very trusting and I try to see the best in people. I believed them when they told me they just wanted things to remember him by. I learned my lesson! I'm much better at setting and holding boundaries! Thank god for therapy!
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  • 14
    4. My family tried to step in and come to my defense. I asked them not to. I was trying to avoid conflict and be empathetic. I let his family manipulate me. My family was not happy about it, but they didn't want to add to everything I was already dealing with.
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  • 15
    5. Everything has been settled. He was killed 8 years ago. The lawsuit was settled a year and a half later, and his estate was settled shortly after that. Any money that they received is long gone, as well as any of the stuff they took, I'm sure. I've been low to no contact with his family for the last 3 years.
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  • 16
    After reading all of your comments, discussing it with my family and friends, talking it over with my therapist, and even asking my husband to give me a sign that I was doing the right thing, I've decided to sell his truck without saying anything to his family. It was OUR truck from the day we bought it. I drove it regularly. I paid it off myself. I still pay to maintain and insure it. It was ours and became mine. I can do whatever I want with it. My plan is to store it for the winter, service i
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  • 17
    princessofperky • 5d NTA honestly you should have cut contact with them a long time ago. They basically stole from a grieving widow. Reply 1.3k
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  • 18
    SafeWord9999 · 4d . Yeah I'd be posting on social media about how they stole out of the cards gifted to you too 449
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  • 19
    Tight-Shift5706. 4d OP, you should have had an attorney from day one. Everything they removed, belonged to you legally. They're selfish, vile people. You owe them NO EXPLANATION! In fact, tell them to fk off, tell everyone what they stole from you, and go no contact. There's no question, had your husband survived, he would have eventually cut off all contact with these ruthless people. Talk about the definition of trailer trash. 347
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  • 20
    springflowers68.5d NTA Say nothing to them. They already stole so much while you were dealing with the initial shock and grief of losing your husband. Don't let them take anything else. ... Reply 229
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  • 21
    rhunter99 5d Geebus those vultures. The wedding band???? Nta. Sell the truck to a deserving buyer. Best wishes Reply 257
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  • 22
    Abject_Jump9617 • 5d You paid for the truck, it is yours to do with what you wish. I doubt any of his freeloading and thieving family will give you a dime for it so just sell it to whomever you wish and move on. Haven't they taken advantage of you enough ??? You want to give them another crack at it? ... Reply ↑ 97
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  • 23
    CADreamn • 4d They've literally stolen from you at your husband's funeral and afterwards, and guilted/manipulated you into letting them. You owe them nothing. Sell the truck. Take a vacation with the money. And tell them to take a hike if they give you any grief about it. ... Reply 60
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  • 24
    Vandreeson • 5d NTA. They've robbed enough from you. It's your truck, you paid it off, what you do with it is your business. Did they stop contacting you once they realized you wouldn't be their ATM? Sell the truck and keep tour money. ... Reply 39 ↓
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  • 25
    hurriedvolcano • 5d Given their past behavior, it's understandable to want to keep this for yourself. Prioritizing your own peace and moving forward is important. Do what feels right for you, and don't feel obligated to cater to their demands. ... Reply ☑
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  • 26
    Miserable_Emu5191 • 4d Girl you should have changed the locks on your house on day 1! I don't get why they are entitled to any of the money from your lawsuit. They are no longer his next of kin, you are. Sell the truck to someone who will care for it and appreciate how much your husband loved it, take the money and go do something nice for yourself because you deserve it. ... ← Reply Ĵ 8 3
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  • 27
    Careless-Apartment-1 OP. 4d Thank you!! My family is so different, so I believed I could trust his family. I never thought they'd manipulate me the way that they did. You live and learn, I guess! ← 11
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  • 28
    NTA Prize_Fox_9163.5d Forget they ever existed. ... Reply
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