Lending money to a family member is often done informally, based on trust rather than documentation. When repayment does not occur, however, the lack of a written agreement can leave even a well‑intentioned lender without legal recourse. New York courts routinely confront these disputes, and they consistently demonstrate that good faith expectations are not a substitute for a properly memorialized loan. The risks are well illustrated in Callahan v. Coventry (Suffolk County 2013), where a…
