Taped phone calls

My mother, who lived in Broward County, Florida, recently died. She had emotional problems and a vitriolic mouth. Over a four-year span, she (unknowingly to her callers, including me, although my sister and brother knew) tape-recorded (and labeled) virtually every phone call in and out, with family, friends, doctors, lawyers, etc.

While cleaning up her condo, I have found boxes, totaling roughly 500 tapes. Although I have begun to destroy the tapes, I have, regrettably, listened to a few that had my own name on them. They made it devastatingly clear that I was among my mother's favorite targets for destruction. In addition, her 14-year-old attacks on me, to various relatives, including one of my sons, have destroyed several relationships. I don't know if I can ever repair the damage she did, and I'm not looking for psychological evaluation, because these tapes will undoubtedly injure more people than just me. However, as part of my decision-making process, I'd like to know if it's legal for me to forward any of these tapes to the people whose conversations are on the tapes? Some but not all of them live in Florida, where the tapes were made. Thank you to whoever is willing to give me an opinion. cb_mccrossin@yahoo.com

[msgny]

It is not illegal for you to forward them. But maybe it is best just to get rid of them??

To msgny: Thank you. Yes, I have physically destroyed most of the tapes--without listening to them. A few family members have asked for some of the tapes that include them; however, those tapes may also have other conversations on them. I really don't want to listen to over 50 tapes, but I want to make sure I'm not breaking the law by forwarding those tapes with others' voices on them. (Some of those "others" are now deceased, so I know they won't object, but some are relatives who are still alive, and probably don't know they were taped. Thanks for any further thoughts. cb_mccrossin@yahoo.com