The Unpaid Debts of Sister Wives: Will Janelle and Meri Ever See Their Money Again?
As viewers tune in to the latest season of Sister Wives, questions surrounding the family’s finances, particularly the fate of Coyote Pass and past loans, are swirling. Remember when Janelle and Meri Brown loaned money to Robyn and Kody Brown? With Janelle and Meri having left Kody, the burning question is: what happens to that money now? Let’s dive into what a legal expert has to say about this complicated situation.
A Verbal Agreement Isn’t Always Binding
The current season of Sister Wives, though behind real-time events, continues to spark debate among fans. One fan took to Reddit to discuss whether Janelle and Meri Brown would ever be repaid for their past loans. User TequilaMakesTheDrama cited a lawyer on TikTok who dissected the legality of the Brown family’s internal lending practices.
The consensus? Without legally binding contracts, the money is considered a gift, regardless of verbal agreements and repayment timelines.
In the eyes of the law, particularly in Nevada and Arizona, a contract is essential for ensuring repayment. So, unless Kody and Robyn Brown decide to repay out of goodwill, Janelle and Meri may be out of luck.
Can the Show Itself Serve as Evidence?
Sister Wives fans know Kody’s track record. Given the choice between “doing the right thing” and keeping the money, many believe he’ll choose the latter. But could the show itself provide a glimmer of hope?
Other fans weighed in on the Reddit thread, sharing their thoughts:
- “Not communicating with Janelle on the repayment schedule for Coyote Pass because ‘he doesn’t trust her’ is financially abusive,” one person wrote.
- Another agreed, “It’s the LAST thing he has to try and control her.”
- A third fan pointed out that this type of law is common, “I thought this when Janelle said she may need to lawyer up. I really hope they get something from the land. But it’s similar in UK contract law – money moved between family and friends is often considered a gift with no strings attached unless theres a formal contract signed.”
- A fourth, however, disagreed, “That lawyer is incorrect. Verbal contracts are valid in Nevada as long as they are for less than $100,000. There are some other reasons that would require a written contract but a verbal contract for less than $100,000 is valid (if you can prove it, like, say…..a TV show caught you agreeing).”
The situation remains unclear. While a written agreement is always the safest bet when loaning money, the televised agreement might offer some recourse. Will Janelle and Meri pursue legal action? Only time will tell.
Sister Wives airs Sundays at 10 p.m. EST on TLC.
