Real Answers for Life’s Money Challenges

My stepdaughter became engaged.

(We keep ourfinances separate.)

After becoming friendly with her mom again, she refused me an invite to the wedding.

A bridge looks like she’s unhappy in this photo.

Can I sue for my money back?

Excluded Stepmom

Dear Excluded,

Im sorry for your experience!

This sounds like a difficult challenge for your family.

Dear Penny

There arent strict guidelines for when you’ve got the option to bring a civil lawsuit.

Whether you could likely win your money depends on the evidence you bring and what youre asking for.

Speak with an attorney to consider the viability of your case.

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Of course, your circumstances involve much more than money changing hands.

This is an example of why it can be tricky to give orlend money to family and friends.

You brew coffee at home, you dont walk into Target and you refuse to order avocado toast.

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(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)

You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries… you could celebrate giving her that, even if your relationship was in a bad place.

Does it require a financial remedy?

Is a lawsuit the best way to achieve that?

Dana Miranda is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and author of YOU DONT NEED A BUDGET.

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