This couple desperately wanted to own a home in the Bay Area, but without the help of her parents, it would never be possible. However, when the parents offered to pay $150,000 for a down payment as a «gift,» things got complicated for the entire family, sparking an ongoing debate about money, obligation, and trust.

Would you take $150k if your in-laws offered it to you? 

Initially, most people would scream, «Yes, of course. DUH, Jesse, I’d cash that check immediately.» But the longer you think about it, the more convoluted this offer becomes. In this story, the in-laws had a good reason for offering up such a large sum of cash to their daughter and her husband; they wanted them to be able to own a home of their own and stop being reliant as tenants. However, in return for their generosity, they demanded that a post-nup agreement be drawn up in the event of a potential split in the family. 

This would then protect their financial investment in the event of a potential marital split. Kind of dark, huh?

From the parents’ perspective, they’re just looking out for their daughter and trying to help her, but from the husband’s perspective, this gift is more of a curse, opening up a world of future financial dependency, favors, and family obligation that he wasn’t sure he was ready for.