Q: I lent someone a large sum of money to invest. He was down on his luck and I wanted to help him by allowing him to prof
it from the interest. This individual recently died from a hit and run car accident. I'm fairly certain that I was not listed as a beneficiary. He had told me he had no family. I have lots of messages stating that it's my money and I was just letting him use it. I know I'm stupid, but my action came from a good place. Please advise. Thank you.
A:
I'm sorry for your loss and the situation you find yourself in. Without a formal written agreement, it may be difficult to prove that the money was a loan and not a gift. However, your messages could serve as evidence that the money was not a gift and that you intended for it to be repaid.
It may be worth reaching out to the executor of the deceased's estate to see if they have any information about your loan or if they can provide any assistance in locating any assets or beneficiaries. If the deceased had no assets, then unfortunately there may not be anything that can be done to recover your loan.
If you have any further concerns or questions, it may be helpful to consult with a lawyer who can provide more specific advice based on the details of your situation.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.