Dad passes off $10,000 gift to 18-year-old daughter as her inheritance, she later finds out it was the child support that he refused to pay her mother: "[My mom] never saw a dime of it"

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jul 6, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

What would you do if you received an unexpected $10,000? For some, that's just pocket money, but for many more, that could potentially be a life-changing amount of money. It can relieve you from the shackles of debt or get you where you need to be financially in order to fulfill your dreams. Even if getting $10k isn't completely urgent for you, having that much added to your savings account in case of emergency could afford you the stability that you need to feel more at ease. 
In today's story, this is the exact amount if money that our protagonist receives as an inheritance from her absent biological father. She uses the money wisely, but she later comes to regret it when she finds out that it wasn't an inheritance at all. It was the money that her mother was meant to receive as child support. Looking back at her childhood and how her mother went hungry trying to support her, our protagonist wonders if she did the right thing with the money.

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  • 01

    My dad gave me an "inheritance" that was actually my own child support.

    Cheezburger Image 10525323776
    via pixelshot

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

  • 02
    I'm 24 now. When I was 18, my dad told me he had something special for me: the money he'd been setting aside for years as an "inheritance."
    via u/flexgj8
  • 03
    He made a whole production of it. Gave me a check, shook my hand, told me to spend it wisely. It wasn't a ton, just under $10,000 but it meant a lot to me. I used it to pay for college deposits, rent, and a busted car repair.
    via u/flexgj8
  • 04
    ERAL RESERVE NOTE 44607441 B ST TEM
    via zimmytws's Images

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

  • 05
    Last month, I ran into my mom's old friend at a wedding. She got emotional seeing me and asked if I was still "getting that child support money your mom used to fight for." I said no, I never got any child support. She looked confused.
    via u/flexgj8
  • 06
    Turns out, my dad had been legally ordered to pay my mom child support for 12 years. And he did. But she never saw a dime of it. He opened a bank account in my name, funneled the money there, and gave it to me at 18 like it was some gift from him.
    via u/flexgj8
  • 07
    He basically gift-wrapped my own fking child support and called it generosity. I confronted him. He just shrugged and said, "I knew you'd need it more than your mom."
    via u/flexgj8
  • 08
    I feel sick. My mom worked two jobs. Skipped meals. Wore threadbare shoes so I could have new ones. And he let her suffer while hoarding the money and pretending to be the good guy. I feel like I betrayed her without even knowing it.
    via u/flexgj8
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10525324288
    via dimaberlinphotos

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

  • 10
    Evening Eagle425 He's a j Child support was meant to help your mom provide for you. But this isn't on you, you had nothing to do with it...
    via u/Evening_Eagle425
  • 11
    Your dad screwed you both, I doubt 10 grand was even the full amount. 12 years? That's like 70 bucks a month...
    via u/Evening_Eagle425
  • 12
    Carrotgirl1 Just for the record, he still owes your mom that money. Child support doesn't work like that. I hope she still goes after him
    via u/Carrotgirl1
  • 13
    pomenart this. check "your child support bestie" on Tiktok or IG, lots of useful info there
    via u/pomenart
  • 14
    CHILD SUPPORT AGREEMENT The parties agree as follows: The income of the payor [name] The payor currently resides in The income of the recipient The recipient
    via designer491 from Getty Images

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

  • 15
    4eversushi You didn't betray her, your dad betrayed both of you guys.
    via u/4eversushi

  • I can understand why she feels regret over using the money, but she did the right thing with the information that she had at the time.

  • 16
    KittenKingdom000 That's ridiculous. Also, it's not too late to file with the courts if you want to be petty. The 10k was a gift, doesn't count legally. You can ask the courts to garnish wages, etc. It sounds like your mom isn't
    via u/KittenKingdom000
  • 17
    here anymore, so if that's the case it would be filed by the person who handled her estate. Back child support doesn't go away when you turn 18, my uncle still has warrants in my state for evading so he can't come back.
    via u/KittenKingdom000
  • 18
    Always_Cairns OP definitely needs to talk with a lawyer about this. Definitely go for all the back pay.
    via u/Always_Cairns
  • 19
    Spirited_Complex_903 Your Dad is and was cruel to both you and your Mom. He knew exactly what he was doing and he didn't even come clean about it until you confronted
    via u/Spirited_Complex_903
  • 20
    him. There's really no need to remain in contact with him, is there? Please do not feel guilty because you had no way of knowing until recently.
    via u/Spirited_Complex_903
  • 21
    SchroedingersBonsai Exactly that. You didn't betray her, you were tricked.
    via u/SchroedingersBonsai
  • 22
    ufcivil100 He still owes her that money. His giving you that present means nothing to the courts.
    via u/ufcivil100

  • It sounds like our protagonist could absolutely take legal action against this.

  • 23
    Gandoff2169 Expose him. The fact is also this. If your mom did not get it, legally I think she is still owed it. He can set the money aside and give you it ALL he wants. But if
    via u/Gandoff2169
  • 24
    there was money to be paid to her, he still owes it. But you should expose him for his "gift" to everyone and got low contact if not no contact for such a vile act.
    via u/Gandoff2169
  • 25
    GabrielSH77 OP you used that money for the best possible things – the only one who betrayed anyone is your dad. Who s ks. -
    via u/GabrielSH77
  • 26
    Child support $ isn't a gift. It's a mechanism for ensuring that a child's life is a similar quality to if the second parent was still around and contributing financially.
    via u/GabrielSH77
  • 27
    My dad did the same thing but because my mom asked him to. That money became mine at 18, where I applied it to my college loans. My stepmother had a hard time grasping that this wasn't a gift or extra money - this is the money that he would have spent on childrearing if he was still living and full-time coparenting with my mom.
    via u/GabrielSH77
  • 28
    People really don't understand child support. Your dad particularly. To act like it's a his generous actions, when it was literally legally mandated, is wild. But you did nothing wrong. You used it exactly how your mom would have if she'd had it all these years - making a better future for yourself.
    via u/GabrielSH77

Tags

relationship advice family drama inheritance fatherhood relationships parenting child support dad family daughter raising kids Parenting Fail parents entitled people
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