Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Georgia

I am planning to move out with my fiance very soon and I am twenty-one.

I am wondering, legally are my parents allowed to keep gifts (Christmas/Birthday/Random) and things I had worked the price off for? My parents have had me cleaning and working around the house as a form of work for room and board. Both are very spiteful and my mother claims that when I move out. I am taking nothing but the clothes I'm wearing. Legally, is things like clothes, video games (I got them all as gifts, we have photos of me receiving them on Christmas)..ect? I had left once and my parents had refused to even give my social security card and birth certificate so I wish to know if the law is with me on this to print out and present them to it when I do actually move out.


Asked on 4/18/12, 3:05 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Printing out something from a website like this is not going to solve the problem with your parents. It might make it worse if you start trying to make a legal argument when you are not really going to sue your parents for a video game (and they know it). If you are going to move, then move. Contact them later to try to resolve it and get your other things. Don't try to turn a family spat into a big legal argument.

As far as moving in with your fiance, we get lots of those questions too.

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Answered on 4/18/12, 3:17 pm
Glen Ashman Ashman Law Office also dba Glen Ashman Attorney

Your bigger issue is the huge and very bad legal ramifications of moving in with your fiance without being married. That can generate enormous legal problems and you need to sit down with a lawyer to discuss what agreements and documents you should have to minimize those problems. Better yet - get married FIRST.

You can sue for anything. If you think it is worth it to spend $5000 or $10000 in legal fees for some video games and clothes sure, you can try and prove they are yours. Even if you sue pro se you spend the court costs on what frankly is a very hard to prove case.

You would do far better to recognize the real legal morass you are about to jump into and stop worrying about video games. Moving in with a live in lover is often a legal disaster down the road.

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Answered on 4/18/12, 3:30 pm


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