The roommate did leave, but left all his possessions behind, including family heirlooms.

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Recently added a bathroom and closet to a rental property - work was mediocre (largely due to GC subcontracting out to someone shady) but everything got done and works - tenants move in this weekend.Here's the dilemma, I (stupidly) Ieft a family heirloom quilt hand-made by my great -grandmother draped on a chair in the living room and the workers decided to use it to clean up waste in bathroom install.

The guy then had the balls to ask for a few plants planted in the back yard and some crappy stone that was lining the garden that was his wife's grandmothers (we all know about landscaping stones as priceless family heirlooms!)

I liken 'Cash for Keys' to:- Giving the soon to be Ex lawn chairs or other heirlooms with sentimental value rather paying 2 attorneys thousands of $$'s to fight over them - Settling a lawsuit out of court for less than the cost of defenseIt certainly never feels good to give  in to the opposing party but from a practical point of view sometimes you just have to cut/minimize your losses and move on to new opportunities.Rick

Marshaling assets if you will .You mentioned that there are currently family issues at play (money was loaned and never paid back ~ family fighting over heirlooms, personal property was promised and now in limbo, etc., etc.) and this is the only thing I can think of that a interested heir could proceed with.Should you proceed with this I can refer you to an attorney to assist you.Use caution..

An odd indicator is the large family furniture heirlooms folks my age can’t give away to their kids like past generations. 

Are you keeping the place as an heirloom for your as yet unborn grandkids?

She may be able to make some sort of equitable claim if you were throwing out flat screen tvs or rare family heirlooms.

Recommend Heirloom Management in Duluth.