Sister takes legal action against brother after he gives family heirloom diamond necklace meant for her, to his fiancée: ‘She is family now. Don’t be petty’

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jan 3, 2025 2:00 PM EST

The process of divvying up family heirlooms during will readings after a loved one has passed is one of the main reasons why families having falling outs. This might speak to the material hedonism we see so much of in the 21st century, but a shiny diamond necklace does numbers on folks looking to make a quick buck or impress their partners.

The Reddit story you're about to read is not about the original poster's (OP's) material flaw, but rather her brother's. She mentions that her family has a tradition where a special diamond necklace is passed down to the first daughter in the family. The OP expected this necklace to go to her, but her brother suspiciously stated that before their grandmother passed, she said he should have it instead. The OP is suspicious of this sudden change of heart, and even more so when she sees her future sister-in-law sporting the diamon necklace on social media. Scroll to read.

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    Cheezburger Image 10448776448
    via Anita Austvika For Unsplash+
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    AITA for suing my brother over a family heirloom he gave to his fiancée?
    via CourseTasty9395
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    I come from a family where heirlooms mean a lot. Our grandmother left us an antique diamond necklace that's been passed down for
    via CourseTasty9395
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    generations to the first daughter in the family. Since I'm the only daughter of this generation, it was supposed to come to me.
    via CourseTasty9395
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    My brother claimed grandma told him in private that it should go to him instead because he's "the most responsible." I didn't want to cause drama, so I let it go, even though it felt unfair.
    via CourseTasty9395
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    Last week, I saw on social media that my brother gave the necklace to his fiancée as an engagement gift. She posted a picture wearing it with the caption, "Feeling like royalty with my new family heirloom."
    via CourseTasty9395
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    I confronted my brother and reminded him the necklace was meant to stay in the family. He said, "She is family now. Don't be petty." When I asked for it back, he refused, saying it would ruin their engagement.
    via CourseTasty9395

  • This is typical narccisist behavior. The OP's brother wants to place blame on the OP because he knows he did something immoral, then throws the possibility of the wedding being “ruined” by something he chose to do.

    You'll see below that commenters are suspicious of the fact that there is no real legal document that states the diamond necklace is rightfully OP's, but given their family history, he is definitely going under people's noses to get that bling for his fiancée.

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    I decided to take legal action to get the necklace back. Now my brother is furious and calling me selfish. My parents think I'm overreacting, but some extended family
    via CourseTasty9395
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    members are on my side, saying he never had the right to give it away. His fiancée even messaged me, calling me a jealous drama queen and telling me to find my own man to buy me jewelry.
    via CourseTasty9395
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    The whole thing has caused a family feud, and now my brother and his fiancée are threatening to uninvite me from the wedding.
    via CourseTasty9395
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    AITA for taking this to court over a necklace that was supposed to be mine?
    via CourseTasty9395
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    KvrtKobang 13h ago. it's unfortunate it's come to this, but you're not wrong. Your brother clearly doesn't understand the responsibility that comes with holding onto a heirloom. By giving it away, he's broken the trust tied to it. NTA
    via KvrtKobang
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    Status-Confec... 12h ago • NTA, also her man did not buy it, he stole it. Dont respond to her while you are suing, but when it is over and you get it back then you can make it clear her loser man did not buy anything for her and stole it. Take him to court.
    via Status-Confection857
  • 14
    morge... • 11h ago. My wife loved a chest at my mum's house I know it should go to my sister. So I went out and bought one for my wife to pass down.
    via morgecroc
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    Competitive-B... • 12h ago. Info: if this is such a strong family tradition, why did your grandmother not leave it to you in her will? What made everyone ok with a "verbal" commitment to your brother?
    via Competitive-Bat-43
  • 16
    HorseFuneralPriest 13h ago • • NTA I already find it more than sus that grandma told your brother "in private" that she wishes to break a family tradition and give that necklace to him not you. If it usually goes to the oldest daughter, grandma would make sure everyone knows that she wants it done differently. Telling only the person who benefits from the change makes no sense.
    via HorseFuneralPriest
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    Unfortunately, I have no idea what the law says about situations like that (probably different in different countries), but your post sounds to me like the legal action has already started so at least your lawyer seems to believe you might have a case. Good luck!
    via HorseFuneralPriest
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    CourseTasty9395 OP.13h ago • Yeah it's hard to believe grandma would've made such a big change without telling anyone else. I'm still figuring out the legal side of things. I just want to do what's right even if it gets messy. What's mine is mine.
    via CourseTasty9395
  • 19
    KateSweetiepu • 8h ago NTA. If the necklace was meant for the first daughter and you're the only one in this generation, your brother literally had no right to hand it off like a party favor. "She's family now" doesn't magically rewrite generations of
    via KateSweetiepu**
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    tradition. You're not ruining their engagement-he did that when he decided to give away something that wasn't his. Take it to court, secure your heirloom, and let them deal with the consequences of their entitlement.
    via KateSweetiepu**
  • 21
    Zachbrams 13h ago • • NTA. heirlooms have rules and traditions, and he disregarded both by giving the necklace to someone who isn't a direct descendant. It's heartbreaking to take legal action, but he left you no choice by ignoring your rightful claim.
    via Zachbrams

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necklaces family drama heirloom drama brother diamonds siblings grandma reddit story family feud will entitled people karma entitled family sibling reddit thread Reddit fiancee entitled people
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