AITA for throwing them out of a house that we own. Son and future In-Laws decide to exclude his family from wedding. They thought son owned the house not us.?
A New Jersey couple faces familial chaos after evicting their son, his fiancée, and her parents from a Pennsylvania home they own. The conflict erupted when the son and his future in-laws excluded the couple from the wedding, deeming them “not their kind of people.” With the house listed for sale and relationships in tatters, the story ignites debates about parental generosity, entitlement, and the fallout of blurred property boundaries.
‘ AITA for throwing them out of a house that we own. Son and future In-Laws decide to exclude his family from wedding. They thought son owned the house not us.?’
Expert Opinions:
Property Rights vs. Family Expectations
Real estate attorney Mark Silverstein explains: “Legally, the parents are within their rights. Morally, however, conflating property ownership with familial loyalty risks long-term estrangement. Clear communication about ownership from the start could have prevented this.”
The Psychology of Entitlement
Dr. Jane Adams, author of When Our Grown Kids Disappoint Us, notes: “Adult children who assume ownership of parental assets often feel entitled due to implicit ‘gifts.’ This dynamic breeds resentment when boundaries are suddenly enforced.”
In-Law Power Struggles
Sociologist Dr. Naomi Riley highlights in The New York Post: “In-law conflicts often stem from territorial disputes. The fiancée’s family overstepped by moving in, but the parents’ retaliation escalates the war instead of addressing the core issue: respect.”
Solutions from Experts:
- Mediation: A neutral party could negotiate a compromise, such as allowing the son to rent the home temporarily.
- Transparency: Parents should formalize property agreements in writing to avoid future misunderstandings.
- Boundary Workshops: Family therapy could address communication breakdowns and entitlement issues.
Check out how the community responded:
Hypothetical Reddit Reactions:
- Team Parents: “NTA. They bit the hand that housed them. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”
- Team Son: “YTA. Using financial power to control your kid’s life is toxic. You just nuked your relationship.”
- Middle Ground: “ESH. The son/in-laws were rude, but eviction is nuclear. Should’ve set terms sooner.”
This clash forces a reckoning with uncomfortable questions: Does generosity come with strings attached? While the parents’ legal standing is clear, their emotional response risks permanent damage. Is protecting pride worth losing a child, or was this a necessary lesson in accountability? Share your take: Where should family loyalty end and self-respect begin?
I would have said, “before the family moved in I was thinking of giving the house as a wedding gift, but not now.”
Well, to start with, I would have tossed the “s*it at the fan” at the barbeque meet and greet. I would not have left MY house to those jerks for 10 minutes, much less a week. I might offer the in-laws a thank you for the compliment that I am not their kind of people. Damn Straight I’m not!
Ther would not have been anyone standing after they told my wife we are not good enough for them. Right then I would have put them out and then told my son he has 15 days to find some place else to stay. I would not have left to go back to NJ because it is MY house. I would change the locks and make sure that they knew that this was the end of the free ride. He was a lot nicer than I would have been.