Family Member Borrowed $8,000 Without A Signed Repayment Agreement, 18 Months Later They're Calling It A Gift. Location: Ohio.

A little over a year ago my cousin (34M) came to me in a rough spot. Needed $8k urgently, said he'd lose his car and had overdue bills piling up. We'd always had a decent relationship so I helped him out. We didn't sign anything because, you know, family.

We agreed verbally he'd pay it back within a year. For the first few months he actually did make payments, small ones, totaling around $800. Then they just stopped. Every time I followed up he'd say he'd sort it soon. I gave him space because again, family.

Last month I finally told him I needed the remaining $7,200 and asked if we could work out a payment plan. His response genuinely floored me. He said I gave him the money as a gift because "that's what family does."

A gift. That I asked to be paid back. That he was making payments on.

What I do have is bank transfer records showing the money leaving my account and his payments coming back, and our text conversations where we clearly discussed repayment terms and he acknowledged the debt multiple times.

No signed agreement though, which I know is on me. Lesson absolutley learned.

My question: is there any realistic legal path to recovering $7,200 from a family member with no signed contract, only bank records and text messages acknowledging the debt?

TL;DR - lent cousin $8k on a verbal agreement, he paid back $800 then stopped, now claims it was a gift. Have transfer records and texts where he acknowledged owing the money but no signed contract. Do I have any realistic options? Location: Ohio