My wife and I helped an elderly neighbor with hundreds of hours of our time for the last 4 years i.e. helping her: refinance her house, income tax, driving her to doctors. soc. Security problems, picking up groceries, etc. We never accepted any money (or wanted any). She did give my wife several pieces of jewely over the years (nothing too expensive). Now she's mad at us and wants them back. Are we obligated legally? Thanks.

Well you shouldn't have to because you helped her out with all this stuff you listed and that we do with our neighbours and they always ask if we need something and we say no but she gives it anyway and we helped and paid for a lot of things in her house we even renovated her house for FREE!!:cool:

Hello g:

Nope. A gift is a gift. She can't turn it into a loan.

excon

As a completely non-legal question, why is she mad at you? You said you've been helping her for 4 years, why is she upset now?

To keep the peace and preclude any kind of police report being filed that you and your spouse took the jewelry from her, I'd just give it back. Old people can get rather nutty the older they get and I for one would not want nutty granny falsely accusing me of taking her jewelry and having to deal with that headache. She may have given it to you while she was in a generous mood and then when she rethought her generosity, she decided she wanted it back. What do you care? Your giving of your time should not come with any strings attached - otherwise you were being paid for your generosity, and then it was not a gift from you to her.

I will agree with twinkle, if she lies and tells police you stole it, and they find it in your home, guess who they may believe ?

And you may want to merely bill her for the work you did the last few months as a reminder of what you have done for her.

But if it was me, I would give it back and stop doing anything for her.

Remember, no good deed goes unpunished.