Let's say you are sixteen years old and your grandfather passes away. Before he died, he intended a certain amount to be left to me. Only thing is, is that he didn't put it in his will. While the amount almost hits six figures, it turns out that his wishes weren't carried out.
The people responsible for carrying out his wishes were my parents. They instead took the money and never told me about. During the time, they did, however, make a joint account with me, which I never bothered to check. A number of years later, and I get a job and open up a bank account so I can get direct deposit and voila, I see a large sum of money sitting in an account I wasn't expecting. This money isn't what was to be mine, but it's more than half.
Originally, my parents had told me that they were looking to buy a new house, which, at the time, I wasn't aware of what had transpired. When they found a house, they eventually put the old house up on the market. They eventually told me that I was supposed to get a sum of money from my granddad. Naturally, I was very upset with them, and told me if I wanted to move out, they would understand. Only thing is, is that the money is in the house.
Do you see the problem? If they bought a house with my money, then what about the money they had been putting into the previous home over the years? They were using it as they pleased. Scummy, I know. However, linking back to the accounts, I read that it's actually completely legal for me to clean the account out.
If I were to clean the account out, I would have to leave, of course. My parents would probably try to literally kill me. There is, however, the moral dilemma. I know some of you might be asking why there is a dilemma, but there is. If I were to do this, they would have to liquefy certain assets and they would still be strapped for cash, nor able to retire when they want to. I would be putting them in a bad spot, but then again, they put me a bad spot just as much.
What would you do?
