18-year-old sues parents after they used her college money to fund her brother's wedding: 'There was like $13,000 left!'

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 10, 2025 8:00 AM EST

This young student was supposed to have a college fund for higher education that was set aside for her by her great-aunt, until her selfish parents got in the way.

It's important to note that the author's culture does not have the same relationship with higher education as other cultures do. That being said, the author was given this money by a relative who cared about the young women in her family going to college. The purposes of this fund were directly communicated not only to the author but to her parents as well, and it was expressed in writing.

However, when the time came for the student to inherit that money and dip into those resources for school, she discovered that a considerable portion of that money had already been spent. Guess who was the culprit? Her parents, but guess what they spent it on? Her brother's wedding ceremony! 

Let's just say that it's going to take a long time for these relationships to recover. Keep scrolling below to find out what the author did next!

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  • 01
    A mother and her teenage daughter have an argument on the couch
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    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • This is one of those instances where the most mature individual in this family is the youngest person. The author was lucky enough to have enough friends on her side to support her in suing her parents for the money she rightfully inherited from her great-aunt. The rest of her family, however, disapproved of her actions. Even her brother tried to get her to back down, to no avail. He shouldn't exactly be talking, considering that he accepted her college money for a party. 

  • 02

    "[Am I wrong] for suing my parents for my college money?"

    My great-aunt set up savings accounts for all of her female relatives. In our culture education for women is not really valued and she thought that was bulls.
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  • 03
    She lived with her father in London where she was educated. She went on to attend university and became a doctor She married a British man, they moved to America and had a great life.
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  • 04
    She funded the education of as many of her neices and grand neices as she could.
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  • 05
    When she passed away she left money for every girl relative she could. My parents managed to access the accounts that were set up for my sister and I.
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  • 06
    They used it to pay for my brother's wedding. My sister didn't care because she got married two years out of high school and had no intention of going to college.
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  • 07
    When I graduated I went to the bank to get money for school and it was almost all gone.
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    There was like $13,000 left. I asked my parents about it and they said they had needed the money.
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  • 09
    I finally found out where the money went. I got furious. I got student loans and moved out.
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  • 10
    I am a great source of shame to them and I don't give two f ks. I am currently suing them for the money that was left for me.
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  • 11
    My entire family is against me. They all think I am a complete a hole for airing private family business in public.
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    And that I am putting money ahead of family. My friends are all on my side but they are all Americans and don't really get my culture.
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    Neither do I to be honest. My brother called me up and offered to pay for my university if I drop the lawsuit.
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    agreed as long as we had a legally binding contract. He said I was being an a hole for not trusting him.
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    I said he should not have accepted my money for his wedding. It is causing all kinds of embarrassment in our community.
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    I am somewhat ashamed to be doing this but I don't want to have this debt I should not have.
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    A young woman standing outside with a backpack and a laptop computer.
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  • 18
    OP Accomplished_Bar5656 The student law center at my university is helping me with everything. I have proof that the money was mine. I am trying to do everything I can so this does not become a criminal matter.
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  • 19
    Timely-Ask-1327 NTA. Your parents didn't borrow your money. They stole it. I hope you have all the documents to show that money was yours. Your brother is also the AH for trying to get you to drop a lawsuit with what is most likely a lie. If you have a chance to start life without student debt you do whatever you can to do that. Your parents , and I'm sorry but their culture, sound completely toxic. I'm glad you got out.
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    OP Accomplished_Bar5656 I'm getting help from my university. I guess I'm not the first student with this problem.
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  • 21
    AuContraireRodders NTA at all. You got screwed over by those who should have your back the most. I don't blame you for taking legal action, just be aware that it might cost just as much as you'd get back if successful. If it were me, I'd cut my losses and go no contact. I get that it's hard, but what they did is absolutely awful.
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  • 22
    OP Accomplished_Bar5656 Enough that both my sister and I could have finished our undergraduate degrees without debt.
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    RohMP NTA how much was stolen?
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  • 24
    Mopper300 >They all think I am a complete asshole for airing private family business in public. And that I am putting money ahead of family. Noooooo, they think you are an asshole for holding them accountable for their awful actions. They thought you would be a pushover, but you are showing them you're not. Your great-aunt would be proud of you. And you aren't the one putting money ahead of family. They did when they stole your money. They already showed you how little they think of you or respe
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  • 25
    kavk27 NTA Your parents and your brother had the opportunity to keep this a private matter when you told them you would sue them if they didn't return the money or pay for your schooling. Since you have already been betrayed by family members you trusted, your brother should not be offended that you want a written contract.
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  • 26
    NTA [deleted] She set up that fund precisely to stop this kind of sexist preferential treatment. Do it
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  • 27
    NTA Zestyclose-Sky-1921 Also your alternative to your brother was excellent. I have no idea why your brother got angry /s explicit explanation: because he is from the same family and was absolutely going to screw you over just like your parents did. I approve of absolutely every step you have done, especially dealing with your brother.
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  • 28
    Anonymous Truths 1979 > for airing private family business in public. You aren't posting drama on tiktok, you're suing them, in court. The court will decide if they broke the law or not. Allowing a court to settle an issue when someone has broken the law is not "airing private family business". It's protecting yourself from illegal and/or abusive behaviors. You have every right, legally and morally, to do so. Nothing to be ashamed of. NTA
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  • 29
    BeenieGeenie You know...the fact the money was setup specifically so the FEMALES could get an education and then it was stolen to be used for a MALES wedding is just all kinds of extra messed up. NTA. Get your money OP!
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  • 30
    Professor Yaffle1 NTA your parents stole from you. I find it difficult to believe that that's culturally acceptable. If they had asked you to agree to the money being used it would be different.(although still not great given the power imbalance) And I would have thought that intentionally disrespecting the dead would be a no-no in most cultures. You aren't 'airing family business in public'. You are dealing with a theft. Your parents are the ones who chose to lie and steal, they have only the s
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family drama aita entitled parents brother family feud wedding family Parenting Fail college parents
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