Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

Re: mom dies while father gets richer.

these questions cannot be answered completely or correctly without reviewing documents, such as a will, trust, life insurance policies, deeds and bank accounts, related to your mother's estate.

it is possible that all of her property was held as community property or in joint tenancy with your father. in that case he is legally entitled to all of it. if not, and there was a trust holding her property, the disposition at her death depends on the provisions of the trust. if not, and there was only a will, the disposition at her death depends upon the wording of the will. if not, and there was no trust or will, the disposition is by the California laws of intestacy.

if there is any property that was not in joint tenancy or community property with your father, and if there was no trust, you can file a petition for probate (of the will or her intestate estate) with the superior court.

if you believe that you are a named beneficiary of an insurance policy or policies on your mother's life and your father will not provide you with a copy of the policy, you should contact the life insurance company directly.