7 On Your Side Recovers $450,000 Stuck in Court for 15 Years

Family's Financial Struggle

• 💔 A Brooklyn family, the Shibarasis, faced a 15-year ordeal with nearly $450,000 held in surrogate court escrow following the sale of their inherited homestead in 2010.
• 👵 Lucille, the matriarch, is now 84 and expressed frustration that the matter wasn't resolved much sooner, impacting her peace of mind.
• 💸 The delay caused significant financial hardship, with Lucille's life savings and life insurance depleted, and her children helping to prevent her current home from foreclosure.

Navigating Bureaucratic Red Tape

• ⚖️ The funds were stalled because a judge's approval was needed to divide the money, but the process was repeatedly delayed by what was described as excessive paperwork and starting over.
• 💰 The family felt that a process that should have cost around $8,000 was becoming prohibitively expensive and emotionally draining, leading them to feel ignored.
• 🆘 Facing mounting bills and a collapsing garage, the family turned to "7 On Your Side" as a last resort after exhausting all other avenues.

Resolution Through Intervention

• 📰 "7 On Your Side" contacted the clerk's office, which initially suggested the family would have to restart the entire process.
• 🚀 Escalating the issue to the state's Court of Appeals, a judge intervened and expedited the approval, stating, "We're going to get this done. I want this off my desk."
• ✅ The intervention led to the immediate release of the $450,000, providing the family with immense relief after 15 years of waiting.