My sister and her ex-husband promised, in their divorce decree, to repay my loan. They never did. Is this legally binding?

Sister Left Out of Pocket

Also see: ‘He broke down in tears’: I gave my contractor $100,000, but he used it to pay off his debts. What chance do I have of getting my money back?

Dear Sister,

Lending money should never be treated lightly. When you loan people money — including and especially — family members, sign a loan agreement, spelling out the amount of money you are lending, and the period of time you would like it back, how it should be paid back (in installments or a lump sum), whether there is any collateral, plus interest and late fees. That’s a lot, isn’t it? Especially for siblings. But it also reflects the seriousness of the transaction, and reminds both parties that it’s not one that should be taken lightly. If you are lending $50,000 to a friend, family member or business partner, you need to have your John Hancocks in black and white.

But could this be seen as proof of a loan being made to your sister and her ex-husband? John Lambros, an attorney with Brinkley Morgan in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is conflicted over whether this would help you in your endeavors to get this money back. “The sister, who is owed the money, is not a party to the divorce decree,” he says. “So it is unlikely, if not impossible, that she could sue over a breach of the divorce decree. Presuming the loan was in fact made, the divorce decree could be utilized as a demonstrative piece of evidence that her sister and husband acknowledge the debt owed to her sister.”

It’s a messy situation, and a complicated one, given that you don’t mention anything about any party having signed a loan agreement. “The sister would likely have better results suing based upon a breach of contract, that is, a formal loan being made and unpaid, or through the equitable route of unjust enrichment — that she provided a benefit without being compensated,” he adds. “She would not have a basis to sue under the divorce decree, but it would certainly be helpful if she sued through the proper channels referenced about.” Lambros practices family law, and stresses that this would be a civil action outside of the family law remit. 

Randall Kessler, a divorce attorney based in Atlanta, Ga., was slightly more optimistic in relation to your case. “This person should be considered a third-party beneficiary and they will likely have rights and consult with a lawyer immediately,” he said. But he is skeptical as to whether this could be enforced through a court order, given that it’s a divorce decree between your sister and ex-husband. “Even if not enforceable as a court order, a contract lawyer might be able to sue on the contract if the parties actually agreed and signed it. Oftentimes, things that courts won’t enforce as a court order, can be enforced separately as a contract.”

In the event that you could prove that you gave or lent your sister money, where is the evidence that she must pay you within a certain time period, and that she agreed to repay the full amount? Given that your sister has inherited $250,000, your best chance of seeing this money again is to first approach her with your request, politely and directly, and implore her to do the right thing, and remind her that you helped her and her then-husband out when they were in a difficult spot, and in need of money. Try the path of least resistance before engaging lawyers and the courts.

Also from Quentin Fottrell:

My mother’s will leaves her house to her two kids and two nieces, but she sold her home. Could these nieces come after us for the money?

I didn’t see how this could happen to my family — until now’: My brother drained $200,000 from my mother’s savings. How can I stop him?

On the day my stepfather died of brain cancer, he changed his trust and left everything to my sister. Do I have any recourse?

You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions at qfottrell@marketwatch.com, and follow Quentin Fottrell on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. The Moneyist regrets he cannot reply to questions individually.

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