Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
Inheritance collection
Hello. My step mother passed away in October of 2006. She had told me a couple years before that me and my children were in her will. She didn't tell my step sister, because she knew a tantrum would be thrown. So, when she didn't call afterwards, I knew that was why. I have moved since shortly after her passing, and do not know the name of her attorney. I don't care so much for me, but I know she left something for my kids. How do I go about things? My stepsister will not tell me anything, and I don't have contact with any of my mom's friends.
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Inheritance collection
Hi...I would agree and suggest that you hire a lawyer in the county where your stepmother lived in California. If a probate proceeding has been started for your stepmother's estate, that information is available to the public and any estate planning attorney would be able to look into it for you. If your stepmother's will was admitted to probate, and you were named in the will as a beneficiary, you should have been entitled to notice of all of the proceedings. If no probate has been opened, the attorney you hire may suggest that you petition the probate court to open a proceeding for your stepmother, so that the matter can be looked into by the court.
Re: Inheritance collection
You need to find out if Probate was opened for the will. The probate court should be located in the county where you step mother lived when she passed away. The filings are often available on line.
You should be able to see who the executor is and who the attorney is for the estate and go from there.
Re: Inheritance collection
Hire a lawyer to look into the matter. It shouldn't take more than a few hundred in legal services to evaluate and determine if there is anything worth pursuing.
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