# Dem House candidate settles $55K debt with ex-mother-in-law

> Bob Brooks resolves 15-year $55,500 debt dispute with ex-mother-in-law weeks before election.
- Title: Dem House candidate settles $55K debt with ex-mother-in-law
- Summary: Bob Brooks resolves 15-year $55,500 debt dispute with ex-mother-in-law weeks before election. Democratic congressional candidate Bob Brooks settled a $55,500…
- Keywords: bob brooks, carol wiley, dem house candidate, congressional district, pennsylvania, debt dispute, democratic primary, general election, promissory note, statute of limitations, news, politics
- Source: Fox News — https://foxnews.com/politics/dem-house-candidate-settles-years-long-55k-debt-fight-former-mother-in-law-weeks-before-election
- Author: Leo Briceno
- Published: 2026-09-19T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bob brooks, carol wiley, dem house candidate, congressional district, pennsylvania, debt dispute, democratic primary, general election, promissory note, statute of limitations, news, politics
## Bob Brooks settles debt with ex-mother-in-law
Democratic candidate Bob Brooks settled a long-standing financial disagreement with his former mother-in-law earlier this month.
## Debt dispute involves $55,500 from 2004
According to court filings, Brooks and Carol Wiley, the mother of his former wife, Jennifer Brooks, have settled a dispute surrounding a $55,500 debt he incurred in 2004.
## Promissory note created in 2008
In 2008, at the request of Michael Wiley, Carol Wiley had a promissory note drafted which memorialized Defendants' debt, and provided that Defendants were jointly and severally liable to pay Carol Wiley $55,500 at 6.5% interest, in 120 monthly payments of $630.19, beginning July 1, 2008.
## Brooks pushed back on court ruling
Brooks argued that the notary had run its course, that a statute of limitations prevented it from being binding almost 15 years after its creation, and that the agreement lacked consideration.
## Court ruled in ex-mother-in-law's favor
The court sided with Wiley, stating that the absence of consideration does not render an agreement unenforceable where the agreement contains an express statement of the signatories’ intent to be bound.
## Brooks faces criticism from Republican
A Republican spokesperson accused Brooks of trying to rip his family off and lying about it to enrich himself, saying if he gains power he would harm Pennsylvanians.

> Scumbag Bob Brooks tried to rip his family off and then lied about it because he cares about one thing: enriching himself.
## Brooks moves to general election
After clearing the Democratic primary, Brooks now heads to the November 3 general election.
## Key takeaway

Democratic congressional candidate Bob Brooks settled a $55,500 debt dispute with his former mother-in-law after 15 years, clearing the way for his November general election bid.