Siblings sign away "worthless" land inheritance to eldest brother, 7 years later demand he return it after property values skyrocket, he refuses: "They're trying to rewrite history"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Mar 8, 2025 7:00 PM EST

At some point, we all have to learn some of the universal laws of life, one of which is "no takesies backsies." In other words, you really shouldn't go back on an agreement or demand to take back something that you gave away. The phrase is comedically infantile likely because it is something most people learn while potty training or in early grade school at the lastest. The initial childhood lesson typicaly involves a child giving away a toy only to regret it when they see how much fun the other kid is having with it. 

In our story today, an adult woman seems to have totally missed this life lesson. Despite practically begging her brother to take responsiility for her share of inherited land, she demands he give it back to her years later after the property values increases. Unfortunately, this no takesies backsie is backed by the law as she signed away her ownership seven years ago. Scroll down below for the full story. 

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  • 01

    Family drama over land given away years ago ―now they want it back

    "Now that it's valuable, they want it back."
    via AndreyPopov

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My grandfather had written a will distributing land among his kids. My dad is the 5th child (he has 6 sisters and 1 brother). Around 20 years ago, there was some discussion and at the time, one of his
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
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    sisters wasn't interested in her share because the land was uneven and had pits, making it less valuable. She even said she had no need for it and offered it to anyone who wanted it.
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
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    via ronstik

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Since all the sisters were married and living far away, and my dad was the eldest son, they all insisted that he take it. He refused at first, but after repeated requests, he agreed. A couple of years
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
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    later, during this sister's daughters' weddings, my dad went out of his way to help them financially- gave cash, gifted jewelry, and ensured they didn't. struggle.
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
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    Cheezburger Image 10475170048
    via Khongtham

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Fast forward about 7 years from the agreement, and suddenly, the same sister came back demanding the land back because property values in the area skyrocketed. My dad refused, reminding her that
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
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    she willingly gave it up, and they had practically begged him to take it. This led to heated arguments, and surprisingly, some of the other sisters took her side.
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
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    It's frustrating because my dad did everything in good faith, and now they're trying to rewrite history. The land was practically worthless when they didn't want it, but now that it's valuable, they want it back. Did my father do the right thing?
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162

  • It sounds like she didn't want to deal with taxes or maintenance costs. You can't really just own a piece of land and keep it on the backburner, you have to invest.

  • 11
    beek_r Your father did the right thing, and needs to stand up to his sisters. Find any paperwork that proves the land is his, including taxes and improvements he's made to it, in case they decide to take him to
    via u/beek_r
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    court. Just because a money grubbing sister says it's hers, that doesn't actually mean it's true. And, if he decides to sell it, that money should stay with him. Best case, he could gift back the value of the land at the time he took possession of it.
    via u/beek_r
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    Consistent-Cry-3162 OP There's paperwork, but I can't help but feel for him at times. Their relationship has turned sour, and they tried to undermine him morally, spreading lies among relatives, claiming he grabbed their land, and so on.
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162

  • The rumors can be easily dispelled by presenting the facts; she signed the land over, and it's legally his now.

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    Cheezburger Image 10475169792
    via utah778

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    Ahjumawi Your father did the right thing and is NTA. Moreover, when they come at him saying he is putting money over family, remind them that *they* are the ones changing their position and putting money over family, not him.
    via u/Ahjumawi
  • 16
    qqpp playing the UNO reverse on this one is right for sure money changes people
    via u/qqpp
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    Funtivity_Director UpdateMe It's your dad's land. End of story.
    via u/Funtivity_Director
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    I once had a cousin go to my father and ask for $10,000. This was back in the late 90s. It wasn't for a medical procedure or emergency. They just wanted it. He said no and they were floored. When
    via u/Funtivity_Director
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    he asked why they thought he would just give them $10,000 it was because he had the money and they felt like he should share it. Mind you, this wasn't an inheritance or windfall. This was his money he earned at his job and they wanted it.
    via u/Funtivity_Director
  • 20
    Angelblade92 It depends, did they legally sign it over to your father in its entirety?
    via u/Angelblade92
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    Consistent-Cry-3162 OP Yes, they did sign it over around the same time.
    via u/Consistent-Cry-3162
  • 22
    FloofyDireWolf NTA then. The land is his. He's been responsible, he's paid the taxes and she has no right to ask for it now. I swear some people never heard "no backsies" as a kid lol
    via u/FloofyDireWolf
  • 23
    Ordinaryflyaway NTA. Me personally..I'm going to pass out the receipts.
    via u/Ordinaryflyaway
  • 24
    No_Hat_1864 Something tells me your father was responsible for all the maintenance and taxes of that land this whole time, and there was an underlying financial motivation for his sister insisting he take it over.
    via u/No_Hat_1864
  • 25
    FrostWhyte NTA. My sister and I were given my mom's piece of land (that she got from my grandparents) and it's split between her two siblings and us. Is it worth anything right now? H I no. But we took it because that could change some day. Don't turn something down just because of current value, it can always change.
    via u/FrostWhyte
  • 26
    impossibleoptimist Too bad for them. He's been paying the taxes and taking the risk.
    via u/impossibleoptimist
  • 27
    Chaoticgood790 NTA but your dad needs to stop rolling over for them. Make sure he talks to a lawyer and that his will is ironclad (or when he sells he splits the money between his children).
    via u/Chaoticgood790
  • 28
    Ngstonia Dad played fair; they're just late to the party.
    via u/Ngstonia
  • 29
    thisisstupid- So they are basically saying they wanted your father to pay all of the property taxes until the land was finally worth something and then give it back? That's a completely unreasonable request, your dad is doing the right thing. NTA.
    via u/thisisstupid-

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family drama landlord toxic brother sibling rivalry siblings reddit story relationships love entitled sister property reddit thread Reddit entitled people inheritance taxes
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