Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Georgia
No will left and No Family
Have a Problem. Friend of 30 years died. Doctor called and stated that I was the person listed to notify. Emergency contact and next of kin. I am not family only a friend of 30 years. He had no living relatives and he always stated that I get everything, headaches
Included. I went to Georgia as the Doctor request but I got there to late. Me his other friends and they stated to me that everything belong to me that that is what they had always been told. However I can't get into his safety deposit box to look for his will. I have only found a hand written will but not completed. However I was listed on a small life insurance policy but having trouble getting death certificate. If no will left how do I get the courts to allow me to take possession of his belonging and assets... As he wanted. I do not have the time to take off from work nor the money to hire a lawyer can I get the needed forms and file them myself if so what forms? Would I need and how do I, do this. I live in TEXAS and he lived in GEORGIA. Any and all help is
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: No will left and No Family
You need to get an attorney to help you with this. It's not going to be a quick and easy fix. Someone needs to be appointed administrator so that you can handle his estate, pay his bills, and distribute his assets. If you locate his will, then you can probabe that will at that point.
Re: No will left and No Family
If there was no will, since you're not family, you are out of luck as to what he owned and cannot receive anything. (The answer from another lawyer would appear to be incorrect, as hiring a lawyer can't make a non-heir an heir). Everyone has SOME relative, so some very distant relative (like a cousin or 2nd cousin or something) is going to get things even if he did not know him.
When people choose not to make a will, they have chosen to disinherit you by that choice. You can't get around that.
The insurance policy is simple. Death certificates are easily ordered from the state. Just pay the fee. Get that to the insurer and if you're the beneficiary you get a check.
Re: No will left and No Family
Let me add one thing. If there IS a will and it leaves things to you, then you do inherit. You can, in many counties, easily get an order from the probate court that will allow the safety deposit box to be drilled open to look for a will. A will does need to be signed and executed to be valid.
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.
