Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Florida
father deceased resided in florida with 3 sons 2 daughters in the uk
My father died in Feb 03 in Tampa, Florida. My stepmother never recognised his family (sons and daughters in the UK) she buried him very quickly in a way that we could not get flights in time for the funeral. The obituary read that he left his wife, nieces and nephews and 2 sisters without mention of the family in the UK. We are unsure of the existance of a will in Florida or the UK.
I have visited Dad in Florida since 1989, from 1993 he came over to stay with us every summer until 2001, then he was so ill, in the last 2 years we visited him in Florida.
Dad always stated that he had made a will and we also believe that there is one in the UK for which he opened up a number of bank accounts.
How can we locate this will? And can it still be executed?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: father deceased resided in florida with 3 sons 2 daughters in the uk
I am sorry about the loss of your father. The first thing you should do is open a probate administration if that has not yet been done. You should contact the local courthouse in Tampa to get some guidance, but you eventually will probably have to retain a local attorney to help you.
Locating the Florida will may be impossible by now. If you can locate the lawyer who prepared it, it is possible in Florida, in certain circumstances, to submit a copy. The UK will may also be valid if it is the last one to have been executed (signed). Even if no valid will is ever found and submitted to the court and your father's estate passes under intestacy statutes, the children (you and your siblings) are entitled to a share. Talk to a probate attorney to get the different scenarios. Good luck.
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