My daughter-in-law stole my grandson&#39;s tuition money. What are my options?
<p>I gave my daughter-in-law $400 once a month for 5 months, starting in June of this year.  She was to make a tuition payment for my grandson every month, starting in June.  I just found out she has made only 2 of the 5 tuition payments.  (For other reasons, she and my son are in the middle of a divorce proceeding.)</p>

<p>What are my options to get my money back, or get it paid to the school?  </p>

<p>I am new here, if this forum is not the proper place for such a question, where might I go? (Clearly paying an attorney to retrieve $1,200 is not practical.)</p>

<p>Is what she did illegal?</p>

<p>Was there a contract? If there was a contract, then it is a breach of contract, possibly embezzlement. Was there a verbal contract? Same, but you might have a hard time to prove it. Was there no contract? Nothing you can do. </p>

<p>In the end, she's the mother of your grandson. If you managed to put her into jail for embezzlement, would your grandson say "good job, grandma / grandad"? Not likely. Or if she says "no Christmas presents because I have to pay $1200 to your dad's parents"? It's a learning experience. You've learned something for $1200. Many people paid more for important experiences, </p>

<p>Barring evidence to the contrary, agreements between family members are presumed to <strong>not</strong> be contracts. Legally, the money you have given your daughter-in-law is a gift; once gifted it is her money and she can do with it as she likes.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>What are my options to get my money back, or get it paid to the school? </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Negotiation with your daughter-in-law; you have no legal options to compel this.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I am new here, if this forum is not the proper place for such a question, where might I go?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It'll do.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Is what she did illegal?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Illegal, no. Unethical, yes.</p>

theft divorce