Skip to content 
AITA for Threatening My Cousin with Homelessness Over Tree Removal? A family inheritance dispute took a dramatic turn when tensions flared over tree removal on inherited land. The protagonist, who had inherited a large piece of land outside the city, clashed with a cousin who had recently built his dream home nearby. Frustrated by the obstructed views caused by trees on the protagonist’s property, the cousin decided to take drastic action and cut down ten large trees without permission.
When the protagonist discovered the damage through trail camera footage, they were furious. The cousin claimed the trees were diseased, but an investigation revealed they were healthy and valued at $50,000 each. With this evidence, the protagonist sought legal recourse, enlisting experts and a lawyer specialized in tree law.
The legal battle led to the recovery of the tree trunks and a financial settlement from the logging company involved, sparing the cousin from criminal charges. However, the situation strained family relationships. Some relatives felt that involving the law was excessive for a family matter, while others supported the protagonist’s quest for justice.
A family-mediated settlement, facilitated by elders, resulted in compensation from an uncle, avoiding further legal action against the cousin that could have resulted in financial ruin. Despite efforts to replant trees, the loss of the mature woodlot remains a painful reminder of the discord and differing priorities that fractured the family.
Read More: REDDIT
AITA for Threatening My Cousin with Homelessness Over Tree Removal?
Want More: Reddit Stories
A family inheritance dispute escalated over tree removal on inherited land.
The protagonist, who inherited a large property outside the city, clashed with a cousin who built his dream home nearby.
The cousin, annoyed by obstructed views caused by trees on the protagonist’s land, cut down ten large trees without permission.
The protagonist discovered the damage through trail camera footage and confronted the cousin.
The cousin claimed the trees were diseased, but experts confirmed they were healthy and worth $50,000 each.
The protagonist pursued legal action, involving experts and a lawyer specializing in tree law.
The legal process led to the recovery of the tree trunks and a financial settlement from the logging company.
This prevented criminal charges against the cousin.
The resolution caused family rifts.
Some relatives felt that legal action was too extreme for a family issue, while others supported the protagonist’s pursuit of justice.
A settlement, arranged by family elders, provided compensation from an uncle and avoided further legal action.
Despite replanting efforts, the loss of the mature trees symbolized the lasting damage caused by family discord and conflicting priorities.
Let’s swiftly assess a handful of the top comments: AITA for Threatening My Cousin with Homelessness Over Tree Removal?
naraic- writes:
My dad said that I shouldn’t have involved the law in a family dispute.
Your dad is an idiot.
500k of property damage goes beyond the threshold of family dispute.
NTA
Your relatives committed a crime during a “family dispute.” Someone steals a car or destroys over $50K of property should get the cops called on them. They severely affected your property value for their own.
Your dad clearly couldn’t think of an alternate EFFECTIVE method of dealing with this and now uselessly handwringing “what will the family think?”.
NTA just because you’re family doesn’t entitle him to change your property, or steal lumber.
NTA. Your cousin did something he knew you had said no to and then lied about it. You did the right thing. His father should take what he had to pay for his screw up out of his share of the inheritance. He needs to pay for what he did one way or another and not have daddy pay.
OP: Do something or I call the cops.
Cousin: Go on then, call the cops
OP: Ok
Family: Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!
OP’s cousin discovered the first rule of “I dare you” and doesn’t like it. OP was reasonable until his cousin decided to double down and was still reasonable when he had the option to ruin his cousin’s life.
NTA
Alahard_915 writes:
NTA
He f around with someone else’s property and found out. He’s just lucky he was bailed out.
And your Dad is wrong. Your cousin not providing food to thanksgiving family gatherings is a family issue. Stealing and selling someone else’s property is a legal and criminal issue.
