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Gift from Dad - now he wants it back?

289 replies

cashquestions · 24/03/2026 13:22

I've namechanged for this - obvious reasons really - but just need to know what people think.

I'm late 40s, two teen boys. Mum died four years ago and shortly after my Dad, very generously and unexpectedly gave us a sum of money that he said was my mum passing money down to us. It was properly documented as a gift for IHT purposes etc and I've invested it and put it in pensions etc. It's mostly tied up for the long term so that my kids can go to uni debt free.

I am very grateful.

Now my dad has married again. I'm delighted. But he wants to buy a new home with new wife, and he's asked me to 'lend' him a third of the money he gave me to help him get this 'over the line'. He reckons this will be short term while she sells her property - wants my money for three months. But there's no guarantee of course that it will be.

I could SCRAPE together what he wants. It would mean losing ISA allowances, selling investment at a loss etc. of course, if he needed an op or something drastic I would do it. But this is so he can sell a nice home that was my family home and buy something pricier in a 'more upmarket' bit of a very nice village.

I'm sad he's asked. It makes me feel like the money he gave wasn't really a gift, and that he's always wanted control over how it was used.

Should I lend him it? What will happen to our relationship if I don't? Am I unreasonable to resent him asking?

OP posts:
MrsDoubtfire123 · 24/03/2026 18:02

HelloR2d2 · 24/03/2026 13:38

Woman dies. Man finds new woman. New woman becomes the most important thing in his life and man shits on his children in favour of the new shiny woman.

Classic widowed man.

I wouldn't mind lending my dad money. I'd sure as hell resent him asking for money for his new bird.

absolutely this … 🤦🏻‍♀️

JWhipple · 24/03/2026 18:02

FeliciaFancybottom · 24/03/2026 13:35

But he hasn't asked for the gift back; he's asked to borrow some money from you. The two things are different, surely?

Well that's even easier. She doesn't have spare cash to fund a house deposit. It's ridiculous he even asked.

And seeing as he asked assuming she had spare cash because of the inheritance, he is asking for the gift back.

MrsDoubtfire123 · 24/03/2026 18:00

Do not do this OP. Say no.

pepperminticecream · 24/03/2026 17:59

RightOnTheEdge · 24/03/2026 17:33

he gave me a bit of a lecture on 'what would you do if an emergency happened -it's wrong to tie your money up'
Cheeky bugger! What if you lend him a big lump of money and then you have an emergency? He's not bothered about that is he?

Good point!

You dealt with this correctly, OP!

Iloveacurry · 24/03/2026 17:58

I think saying no is the right thing. Yes you can get the money out in an emergency, but this isn’t an emergency, and it’s definitely not an emergency for you!

igelkott2026 · 24/03/2026 17:56

ONTHEPREMISES · 24/03/2026 17:16

Gosh, I'd have lent it back to him.

If it's 'tied up' how are you going to access it for childreb's uni?

He'll interpret this as you not helping him short term when he asked, whereas he was generous to you when he could be.

"tied up" means fixed term savings, eg it can be tied up for a year or even 6 months. So you can easily get it for university - or even for a future holiday.

I wouldn't lend my parent money if they were married to someone else. The someone else would naturally be thinking of them and their kids, not me and mine. You'd never get it back.

Glad to see the OP's update and the fact she said no.

igelkott2026 · 24/03/2026 17:53

No, it's your mum's money for you and he and his new wife will have to get a bridging loan.

FinalFinalFile · 24/03/2026 17:48

Assuming somebody has said this or similar, but just in case - wouldn't this be mortgage fraud if you sign a letter to say it's a true gift, when in fact the expectation from both sides is that he'll pay you back?

And if you treat it as a loan, with paperwork etc, then there's a risk the lender won't be happy with that, given it increases overall exposure / risk.

OVienna · 24/03/2026 17:45

Tell him no. You'll never see it again, his wife will see to that.

trumpisruin · 24/03/2026 17:41

Overitallnow · 24/03/2026 17:28

No way it's your money from your Mum passing. I am in a situation with my Dad's second wife who is gunning for everything he had. If you lend him this you will not get it back and likely she could get it all when he dies.

I agree with this. The new woman might be nice to your face OP but she'll be the one driving this request to return a gift.
I would smile and nod, agree that you should manage the money better, what a silly billy you are etc. BUT dont give him a penny, have a few excuses and use them on repeat.

Yardbrushes · 24/03/2026 17:38

Absolutely not.
Not a chance.
The money is fully tied up and you cannot access it.
Awful shabby behaviour from him.
I would be so regretful, but very firm that it simply isn't possible.

RightOnTheEdge · 24/03/2026 17:33

he gave me a bit of a lecture on 'what would you do if an emergency happened -it's wrong to tie your money up'
Cheeky bugger! What if you lend him a big lump of money and then you have an emergency? He's not bothered about that is he?

cashquestions · 24/03/2026 17:30

I honestly think it's all above board, not some kind of trick or anything. I also think she knows how his finances are.

But that doesn't mean I don't think it could be a lot longer than three months before the money comes back, or that it could not end up being incredibly awkward.

OP posts:
Overitallnow · 24/03/2026 17:28

No way it's your money from your Mum passing. I am in a situation with my Dad's second wife who is gunning for everything he had. If you lend him this you will not get it back and likely she could get it all when he dies.

Cherrysoup · 24/03/2026 17:27

Surely your ‘very wealthy’ db can lend him the lot? I did this for my dm when she moved, auction property that she liquidated all her shares for but was short, so I gave her the amount she needed temporarily then got it back when she sold her big house. I had to show provenance to her solicitor, but she’d have had issues had I been unable to fork it over. My Dh had nothing to do with this, so I don’t think you need to be involved.

It really isn’t fair of him to ask you this.

ONTHEPREMISES · 24/03/2026 17:24

cashquestions · 24/03/2026 17:19

@ONTHEPREMISES some matures in June for Ds1s next rent payment, then another bit in September, etc etc.

Ok so what would happen if you take it out early?

You'd lose some money presumably, but still have £20-£100k more than you did before your dad gave you any.

Worth some loss to help him out, maintain the realtionship and still have £20k-£100k more money than you did when he pays you back?

outerspacepotato · 24/03/2026 17:23

pinkyredrose · 24/03/2026 16:33

She was happy enough to take the financial gift. Why wouldn't she help him now?

Because it's invested long term and there's likely large penalties for early withdrawals. Plus, there could be tax implications.

This is not an emergency.

cashquestions · 24/03/2026 17:19

@ONTHEPREMISES some matures in June for Ds1s next rent payment, then another bit in September, etc etc.

OP posts:
GreyBeeplus3 · 24/03/2026 17:18

cashquestions
Don't do it
Let her sell her house
And the way house prices are
They'll probably have enough anyway
To buy what they want
Sorry to ask, but
She doesn't assume he's richer than he really is does she?

trumpisruin · 24/03/2026 17:18

CanaryLibra · 24/03/2026 17:06

he gave me a bit of a lecture on 'what would you do if an emergency happened -it's wrong to tie your money up'.

Lol. Tell him to tell his wife that.

This!
What a fecking hypocrite he is!
Gave you a lump sum and then asked for it back!?
I think that's awful & I would never do that to my children.

ONTHEPREMISES · 24/03/2026 17:16

Gosh, I'd have lent it back to him.

If it's 'tied up' how are you going to access it for childreb's uni?

He'll interpret this as you not helping him short term when he asked, whereas he was generous to you when he could be.

CanaryLibra · 24/03/2026 17:06

he gave me a bit of a lecture on 'what would you do if an emergency happened -it's wrong to tie your money up'.

Lol. Tell him to tell his wife that.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 24/03/2026 17:05

‘Sorry, Dad, I’ve spent/invested it in Junior ISAs for the dcs so it’s no longer available.’

ScribblingPixie · 24/03/2026 17:04

Good update, OP. Rather patronising of him to give you a lecture on financial organisation under the circumstances. I think you've done the right thing.

WildCats24 · 24/03/2026 17:01

cashquestions · 24/03/2026 16:57

i'm really not expecting any inheritance - it's not about any of that! This money was a lovely surprise and I suppose I've just got used to it being ours and factored it into our financial planning.

But I do care more about my relationship with my dad than I do about the rest of it.

Anyhow, I have spoken to him. I explained it is tied up - he gave me a bit of a lecture on 'what would you do if an emergency happened -it's wrong to tie your money up'.

I said 'if it were an emergency I would be able to get it out, but i don't think this is one as I think there are other options."

We talked about bridging finance and I left it there - to be discussed again if necessary.

Ouch though.

he gave me a bit of a lecture on 'what would you do if an emergency happened -it's wrong to tie your money up'.

Pot…meet kettle. A lecture?!?!