He’s also my business partner. He kept his watch collection with me since his wife doesn’t allow him to buy watches and made me promise not to ever tell his wife about them. Not only because she doesn’t like it but also because she will definitely ask him to sell them and probably spend the money on clothes and traveling like she often does.
He lets me use the watches in the condition that I don’t cause any damage. But now that he passed away it doesn’t feel right any more.
His watch collection is worth about 200K$ in todays market. I think the lawful and ethical thing to do is to break the promise and tell his wife but I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do since he made me promise not to tell her.
a promise is not a legal contract.
his promise is also a shitty thing, and sequestering assets from his wife is a shitty thing (for all the incel shitty mens rights nonsense… when you’re married, your assets and debts are shared. his money is not his, it’s “theirs”) those watches are just as much hers as they were his.
regardless of his promise. the right and legal thing to do, is to contact the family, let them know that you have some of the deceased property and would like to return it.
you aren’t obligated to say anything more. than… he chose to store the items with you, and you’re returning them.
but you’re a shitty person if you try and steal the items. they’re are the “estates” and more than likely the wive’s