Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania
Death in family legal question...
My Father, a retired Philadelphia Police Officer, passed away in May of 2000. He had a heart attack while on the job for the School District of Philadelphia. My Father did NOT have a will, and was living with my sister while going through a divorce at the time of his death. My Father received over $100,000.00 from his employment with the Police and the school district. My sister, Elizabeth, took control of his money because she thought she was entitled to it ALL considering she lived with him. She did not tell me the amount of the money until AFTER she gave me and my other sister, Patricia, $10,000.00 each. I later found out that my sister Patricia and I were entitled to a lot more. My question is: Is there anything I can do about this legally? It really got to me when I found out that my sister, Elizabeth, recently was married in Hawaii. Is there anything I can do???
Your help is greatly appreciated.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Death in family legal question...
Your father passed away 8 years ago. When you say he received $100,000.00 the first question is whether he received it before or after he died. If after you must determine why it was paid to your sister. If she was the beneficiary named by your father to receive the funds then there is probably little you can do unless you have very clear evidence of fraud or something approaching coercion. If your father received the funds before he died and your sister "took control" you might be able to force her to make an accounting of her use of the funds. This would require going to Orphan's Court. Of course the final question is; assuming she is found to have done wrong will she have anything to pay you with. Weddings in Hawaii are pretty expensive.
Related Questions & Answers
Looking for something else?
10,200 active attorneys ready to answer your legal questions today.
Featured Attorneys
Earn additional revenue and grow your business.
