AITA for suing my brother over a family heirloom he gave to his fiancée?

A woman, feeling betrayed by her brother, takes legal action over a family heirloom—an antique diamond necklace passed down through generations. Her brother gave the necklace to his fiancée, despite it being meant for her, causing a rift and a potential wedding exclusion. Is she justified in seeking the necklace back? Read the original story below…

‘ AITA for suing my brother over a family heirloom he gave to his fiancée?’

I come from a family where heirlooms mean a lot. Our grandmother left us an antique diamond necklace that’s been passed down for generations to the first daughter in the family. Since I’m the only daughter of this generation, it was supposed to come to me. My brother claimed grandma told him in private that it should go to him instead because he’s “the most responsible.”

I didn’t want to cause drama, so I let it go, even though it felt unfair. Last week, I saw on social media that my brother gave the necklace to his fiancée as an engagement gift. She posted a picture wearing it with the caption, “Feeling like royalty with my new family heirloom.” I confronted my brother and reminded him the necklace was meant to stay in the family.

He said, “She is family now. Don’t be petty.” When I asked for it back, he refused, saying it would ruin their engagement. I decided to take legal action to get the necklace back. Now my brother is furious and calling me selfish. My parents think I’m overreacting, but some extended family members are on my side, saying he never had the right to give it away.

His fiancée even messaged me, calling me a jealous d**ma queen and telling me to find my own man to buy me jewelry. The whole thing has caused a family feud, and now my brother and his fiancée are threatening to uninvite me from the wedding. AITA for taking this to court over a necklace that was supposed to be mine?

These are the responses from Reddit users:

Status-Confection857 −  NTA, also her man did not buy it, he stole it. Dont respond to her while you are suing, but when it is over and you get it back then you can make it clear her l**er man did not buy anything for her and stole it.. Take him to court.

Puzzled-Dream1321 −  *<to find my own man to buy me jewelry. *. Her man didn’t buy it. He kept it from its rightful owner by claiming to be more responsible (Y T A for not reacting then and there to that) and THEN he gave it to his fiancé without ever having spend a dime on the gift.. NTA

KvrtKobang −  it’s unfortunate it’s come to this, but you’re not wrong. Your brother clearly doesn’t understand the responsibility that comes with holding onto a heirloom. By giving it away, he’s broken the trust tied to it. NTA

HorseFuneralPriest −  NTA. I already find it more than sus that grandma told your brother “in private” that she wishes to break a family tradition and give that necklace to him not you. If it usually goes to the oldest daughter, grandma would make sure everyone knows that she wants it done differently. Telling only the person who benefits from the change makes no sense.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what the law says about situations like that (probably different in different countries), but your post sounds to me like the legal action has already started so at least your lawyer seems to believe you might have a case. Good luck!

Competitive-Bat-43 −  Info: if this is such a strong family tradition, why did your grandmother not leave it to you in her will? What made everyone ok with a “verbal” commitment to your brother?

yesimreadytorumble −  legal action based on. what? there’s no will and you all allowed your brother to take ownership of it and from that moment onwards the necklace was his.

CourseTasty9395 −  For everyone asking why I didn’t fight harder to get it before, I honestly didn’t want to cause a huge fight over it at the time. I thought my brother would treat it respectfully, but now seeing it being gifted like it’s just some accessory really hurts. I’m not trying to ruin their engagement; I just want what’s rightfully mine back. What would you have done in my place?

GrizzRich −  INFO – what did her will say about the necklace?

teamglider −  ~~NTA, I guess,~~ but what did you think was going to happen when you let it go? It’s not like your brother was going to wear the necklace. Changing my mind, bc you did let him have it and apparently nothing was said about what would happen to it in the future. Going to court now is just, eh, I think that train done left the station.. Write your wills, folks.

haveanotherpringle −  YTA. The time for dispute has been and gone. You missed the opportunity to claim it. What did you think he was gonna do with it? Wear it himself? Flog it? Another ‘family’ pulled apart by money, greed,amd ‘inheritance’. Says a lot about the state of society – the universal experience of family animosity and fall out over a dead persons earthly belongings.

Was it an overreaction to take legal action over a family heirloom, or was she right to claim what was rightfully hers? Share your thoughts and experiences below!