Sadly this is not an unusual story.
I'm not going to give advice on what you should have done, it's too late for that now.
Win2Win has it about right.
If you managed to get anything back at all then you would be a very very rare breed.
Don't expect the legal system to be of any real help, that would also be a 'money' pit.
Your best possibility is to see what you can personally 'squeeze' back, but it may be a scenario of 'blood from a stone." Be wary of seeking help from the family.
So sorry to learn of this.
