Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California
Locating deceased's living trust
I had an Uncle that told me he was leaving a little something for everyone in his family but the bulk was going to his other(deceased wife's) family in PA. 2 weeks after he died, his neice that was to receive the bulk also died. How do I know or even get a copy of his trust? I have his pertinent (ss# dob & dod) information but I don't know what to do with it. He was quite well off. Nobody in CA seems to know anything (in CA family) not even a contact for the PA family. He resided in L.A. county (90041).
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Locating deceased's living trust
If he owned real estate, it must be in the name of his trust, or it goes by way of will or intestacy. The same on accounts, etc. If you are interested in the estate, you can file for letters of adminsitration. This will give you the power to discover his assets and debts, if he had a will or not, a trust or not.
Chances are that if a search of title records does not reveal the existence of a trust, he did not have one.
Call an attorney to handle this for you in L.A. The legal fees will be paid from the estate and are statutory.