My Mom Took $12,349 From Me. What Can I Do?

When I was a minor my parents had me set up a bank account that they were connected to but never let me have access to it. I got a job 4 months before I turned 18 and when I set up the direct deposit for my paychecks I simply asked my mom what account number and routing number to put. I worked as much as I could for a little over a year and never asked about my paychecks. After a little over a year I went to my bank to look at my account and get a debit card.

My account had $50. No paychecks were put into that account. I opened a new account, went directly to my job and changed my direct deposit. I left the bank sobbing, I worked so hard for over a year and all I had to show for it was $50.

I got home and asked my mother why I only have $50 in my account and where my paychecks were going. She immediately denied knowing anything so I asked her what account went with the last four that my deposit was going into and she said it was a closed account from a state we used to live in. That wasn’t true and so I asked again where my money was going. She started yelling and screaming at me like she never has before.

I left for the night and she said I was no longer her daughter. I went back the next day and talked to her again, she said there was an account that had $2000 that my checks were going in. I calculated the total of what my paychecks should add up to and it was $12,349. We talked and argued and even though she still denies taking the money, eventually came to an agreement that she would pay me $1000 a month until it was paid back. Great, I can get what I made in a year in another year. We didn’t talk much afterwords and 2 months later I moved in with a friend. She stopped the payments and after many conversations with her she always makes an excuse as to why she doesn’t want to give me my money.

Whenever I visit she complains about how broke they are and then tells me about the house they just took a loan out for or how much she loves her new car. Ive tried so many times to talk to her about paying me back and no approach will work. I don’t know what to do at this point. My last resort is legal action but I don’t know how to go about that or if I even have a case. Any tips?