Four Years After Buying A House From My Father-in-law, His Wife Is Asking For Property She Abandoned When She Moved Out.

First off, the relationship with the in-laws is difficult. There’s not a lot of clear open communication. Mostly misunderstood texts. And then anxiety filled phone calls. And power struggles of FIL, MIL, daughter, me. Her grandkids being more important than our children.

This may be more about relationship advice rather than legal advice, but here goes.

We bought a home from my wife’s father.
He enjoyed dealing direct with his daughter. They agreed on a price and then his title attorney drew up the real estate transfer. It was not the standard broker form for my US state. No realtors. My input (or concerns) were not solicited, it was a father daughter deal. For example there were no paragraphs about outbuildings, personal property, move in condition.

He owned the house outright and had his third wife sign acknowledging the sale of her residence. They bought and moved to a new house.

That was four years ago.

As we planned to move in, we said, leave what you can’t use. I was hoping for the nice stuff.

What we got was all the old used furniture, wall hangings, stuff left over from his college days, a vacuum cleaner from his college dorm, a vacuum cleaner from each of three wives, a couch as old as my wife, her childhood coffee table, miscellaneous plates, forks, art knick knacks, a red neon sign that I like and we use when we host special events, it’s part of our “home”

The MIL seemed really reluctant to acknowledge the sale of the home and “our space”

Immediately after moving in, my MIL starts letting herself in through the garage door key code. I put a camera on that and she stopped.

Then I notice the garden shed is locked, and I ask her for the key. She says, “that’s my garden shed, I bought it with my money. I’m getting quotes to move it to my new home.” It’s painted to match my home, and other out buildings. So I’m pretty sure it’s part of the sale. I tell my wife to talk with her father. The lock came off the shed and it never moved.

We then hired moving/declutter/donate help to evacuate the house such that we can move in. Imagine an entire two car garage of estate sale and donate stuff. The got rid of that much and more.

We mentioned to the FIL/MIL that we upgraded to a new couch. She went loud “what happened to the old one, someone [in the family] could have wanted it, like her children.

To be clear the MIL’s house is full full full like a sardine can. And she doesn’t need an old couch. Neither does anyone in the family - it was donated.

A few months later, she says “he wants his old college vacuum cleaner”. Sorry long gone.

We had them for dinner and the FIL noted the red neon sign. He seemed happy to see it used, and the boys enjoying it. Happy memories of his deceased second wife and the times they shared.

We note some glassware they left and MIL emotes, I left that for you. In fact, it was all so haphazard, we were not sure what was intentionally left, what was a “gift”, and what was abandoned.

Personally, she’s always stirring trouble, gaslighting and is narcissist with main character syndrome. White privileged bougie.

Now four years later, we receive a group text. From the MIL:

“Hi, We closed down the storage in town and can’t find the box that held the red neon sign. Do you know where it is by any chance? Could we have left it there?”

It was never packed or in a box, just on a shelf in the garage. I replied

“Yes, it was left in the garage and we brought it in and have it in our dining room. The children enjoy it.”

She replied

“Glad the children enjoy it. So do we. Will let them use it until we leave for Florida in November, how’s that?”

Nuance of the thread, it seems MIL is hoping to have it for Christmas in Florida with her granddaughter. Possibly even a gift for the granddaughter.

It’s dusty, old, loud and my children probably won’t miss it it I don’t mention it, or if I replace it.

But, I’m just tired of my MIL thinking her stuff (or his) is on loan to us, available for clawback when they remember it or are missing something.

My wife instructs me to ignore and not respond, they’ll forget about it in the fall.

So real estate law? property law? family relations law? Boundaries? What’s the status of stuff left behind after a house sale after four years?