My elderly mom passed away suddenly last year from cancer. She lived between myself and my sister. All of my mom's belongings are at my sister's house. My mother always said througout her time on earth that when she passes away certain items go back to the people who purchased them for her. She was refering to jewelry and clothing. My sister is holding my mom's stuff from me and our other siblings. She won't speak to us or return our calls. She has blocked us all. I have reciepts for some of the things I purchased. Like clothing, shoes, her bed, etc. She is also holding my personal belongings that my mom borrowed from me. What can we do to get them?
If there is no written Will then there's not much you can do. Your sister does not have to give over anything. If such is the case you can do one of two things.
1) Try being very nice to your sister and hopefully she'll be reasonable. It's likely she won't if she's ghosting everyone as you say.
2) You and your siblings totally disown your sister. Everyone cuts her out of their life and shun her from your family unless she does the right thing.
Try the ultimatum of either she starts being fair about what your mother wanted, or she loses her family. Then the lot of you make good on the threat and put her put of your lives.
Is this really worth pursuing? Me? I would move on.
So sorry about your loss.
Unfortunately, the law only cares about what’s legal, not what someone promised you verbally that wasn’t recorded . If she didn’t leave a legally created Will with instructions on who gets what, you have no recourse unless you want to take it to an attorney to see if you have a winnable case.
There is no way to prove what your mom said.
If sis has personal belongings of yours that are WORTH ENOUGH to get an expensive attorney (300 to 700 an hour) or for you to file a case (with good proof) in small claims court, then go for it.
Your Mom is gone. I give you my condolences. Mourn her.
Be glad you had sister's help and support in caring for her in her last days; I hope the two of you "held it together" while she was alive as that was a great gift to her.
I am 81. I have given all my "stuff" to those I want to have it already. If I had not, what I "said" would not matter a fig in this world.
Move on, grateful for a mom you loved, treasuring whatever small momento you have, but remembering more HER, because soon enough YOU will be gone, as well.
And that jewelry and "stuff" doesn't matter.