Widow won't hand over engagement ring after husband's family ask for it back
If the unthinkable happens and you lose a loved one, it can be comforting to keep some of their possessions after their death.
Unfortunately, one grieving family and widow have found themselves at odds over who should get to keep her engagement ring.
The family heirloom was given to the woman by her husband, who she misses every day, in celebration of their love. But now she's started seeing another partner - years after her husband's death - her husband's family asked her to return the ring.
In a nasty dispute that has caused hurt on both sides, the in-laws demanded the grieving widow return all of their son's possessions.
The widow refused to give back her ring (stock photo) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)"They said they should have these because while I have moved on, he will never stop being their son," according to the heartbroken woman.
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Turning to Reddit for advice, keen to know if she'd done the right thing in refusing the family, the woman explained she has had a close relationship with her in-laws for years.
Talking about her husband's death seven years prior, the 33-year-old wrote: "We knew each other from a very young age and married when we graduated college. I have known his family for almost my entire life and they are the closest I have to actual family (my own family situation has always been difficult)."
She added that she was very close with his parents and they all 'supported each other heavily through the grief process'. Ever since, they have remained close, and the family 'were broadly supportive' when she 'slowly' started dating again four years ago.
However, they became upset after she started a serious relationship while working abroad in Paris and decided she wants to move there. "Around Christmas, we found out I was pregnant. This was a total surprise as we weren't trying. We have since decided that I will move to France permanently instead of splitting my time between the US and France, so that we can raise a family together," said the expecting mum.
Her post continued: "I told my in laws and they were deeply upset. They said I was depriving them of their only opportunity to have a grandchild (my husband was an only child).
"They then accused me of moving on too quickly and not loving my husband. In the end, we had a huge argument and they have demanded that I leave all my husband's belongings from our apartment (his clothes, personal effects, etc) to them when I move to Paris. They also demanded my engagement ring, which is a family heirloom."
But she was not willing to return everything to them, leading to a further dispute. "I said no, these things are all treasured memories from my life with him that I never want to forget. They have threatened legal action to recover the ring in particular. I'm not sure they have a proper legal right. But I can see the hurt I'm causing them with my choices and maybe giving them what they ask for, they will be able to have closure," she concluded.
Unfortunately, commenters could not agree on the best course of action to take, though many agreed the family have treated the window unfairly. "I can sort of understand the engagement ring, since it was a family heirloom, but because you are now happy again doesn't mean you've forgotten your husband or don't love him. But he is gone, and if he was a good person, he would like to see you happy again," read one reply.
But a second said: "I wouldn't give the ring, but that’s just me. If my wife gave me something and then she passed, I don't think I could ever give it up, especially something as special as the engagement ring."
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