What to do if I had a family member steal money from me and he has yet to return all of it?

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What to do if I had a family member steal money from me and he has yet to return all of it?

They refuse to even speak to me now and I want my money back. I have past emails indicating that he would give me the money but that was 2 months ago and I still have yet to get a cent. What legal options do I have?

Asked on September 17, 2012 under Bankruptcy Law, New Jersey

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 11 years ago | Contributor

You could sue your family member for conversion.  Conversion is theft.  Conversion is the unauthorized  assumption and exercise of ownership over the personal property (which includes money) belonging to another  to the exclusion of the owner's rights.  Conversion is any unauthorized act which deprives an owner of his property permanently or for an indefinite time.

Your damages (monetary compensation you are seeking in your lawsuit) would be the return of the total amount that was stolen. 

In addition to your lawsuit for conversion, you could pursue a separate criminal case in which you could pursue criminal charges of larceny.  Larceny is the trespassory taking and carrying away of the personal property of another with the intent to permanently deprive.


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