Legal Question - Regarding loans

[oakspringer]

Hello, I may have a unique situation and I would appreciate some clarity.

There has been some disagreement over how a student loan should be handled, between myself and my father.

The essentials are, I went to a year of college, and then later decided not to return to that college.

The student loan kicked in and my father stated he was not going to pay the loan.

The student loan is in his name, and he thinks I owe him money for it.

Prior to going to college, I do not recall agreeing to be responsible for the student loan, in fact, when I asked my mother, she told me 'not to worry about it.'

So my question is, am I liable for the loan? Can he sue me for payment of the loan?

If you need extra details let me know.

The loan is in VT.

Thanks

[Brutha]

If you need legal advice, it's best to ask a lawyer.

[TonyToneTone]

I don't know if he can sue you but he did go out on a limb for you by putting a college loan for you in his name (granted that you asked for and borrowed the money). While you might not be legally responsible, it sounds like you morally should be.

[RT Wolf]

I dunno about the legality of it, but morally speaking, you went to college, not him, for your future, not his. Even if you didn't explicitly agree to take on the loan, take responsibility for the consequences of your decisions.

[Acting Like Godot]

The fact that OP posted his question under "Social & Relationships" and not under "Business & Financial" already shows that he already knows what the real issue is about.

[RT Wolf]

^ Very perceptive. It's like the young man who comes to Sartre to ask for advice and Sartre tells him that he's already made his decision about what advice to get based on who he's asking for advice. If he'd gone to a priest, he would have a decent idea of what the priest would say and he's going to him for that.

If the relationship with the father isn't very good, then that's something to be worked on if it's desired that the relatoinship be good.

[Susanna77]

Originally Posted by oakspringer

Hello, I may have a unique situation and I would appreciate some clarity.

There has been some disagreement over how a student loan should be handled, between myself and my father.

The essentials are, I went to a year of college, and then later decided not to return to that college.

The student loan kicked in and my father stated he was not going to pay the loan.

The student loan is in his name, and he thinks I owe him money for it.

Prior to going to college, I do not recall agreeing to be responsible for the student loan, in fact, when I asked my mother, she told me 'not to worry about it.'

So my question is, am I liable for the loan? Can he sue me for payment of the loan?

If you need extra details let me know.

The loan is in VT.

Thanks

I think morally you should take responsability for that loan.

[oakspringer]

I want to thank those who took the time to answer my thread.

I did consult with a lawyer, and it would be very difficult to sue me and win.

It is a sticky situation, because I did want to go to college, and I did want to go to that college.

Would I have made a different decision knowing I would be responsible for paying back all the college? Its very possible.

Community college is something I could have afforded at the time. You can not go to college and not be considered a dependent upon your parents, as far as financial aid goes, until like 25 in CT.

And this college was expensive.

There was no contract, verbal or otherwise between my parents, where we sat down and clearly laid out the terms of the agreement going to college.

One parent assumed I would pay, one parent assumed the parents would pay.

See what a sticky situation this is for a 19 y/o?

I went under the reasonable assumption that I would not have to pay for college.

It was after I stopped going to college, and my parents had to start paying on the college, and my father then turned to me and said, I am not going to pay for this.

While some may claim I am morally responsible for paying this loan back, I do not feel that way.

I sure did feel guilt, confusion, and conflict about whether or not to pay back the loan, but do I feel a moral obligation now? No.

Money and family, friends, or loved ones can quickly become a slippery slope.

What I learned from this, is to be circumspect with your finances.

One party may have an idea about money, and the other party may have a very different idea about money.

I hope this will illuminate for some.

If you have futher doubts, just watch judge judy. You'll see how money can lead to easy conflicts.

I'm closing this chapter in my life.

Have a blessed day everyone,

Ben

[oakspringer]

Originally Posted by RT Wolf

^ Very perceptive. It's like the young man who comes to Sartre to ask for advice and Sartre tells him that he's already made his decision about what advice to get based on who he's asking for advice. If he'd gone to a priest, he would have a decent idea of what the priest would say and he's going to him for that.

If the relationship with the father isn't very good, then that's something to be worked on if it's desired that the relatoinship be good.

My father was physically abusive, on at least a dozen occasions.

This is not a relationship I want to preserve.