Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Hawaii
how can i find out if i was in my mother's will. she recently passed away and my step sister is claiming to have power of attorney. How do we justify her claims?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Traditionally, a devisee is someone who is named in a will to inherit real estate. However, in Hawaii, a devisee is someone who is named in a will to inherit any kind of asset, whether real estate or personal property. If you are a devisee/beneficiary, the Personal Representative or Executor named in the Will has a duty to give you notice. Also, If your mother owned any kind of real estate in Hawaii, there will have to be a probate in Hawaii. Even if the decedent owned only personal property (such as bank accounts and stocks), if decedent was a resident of Hawaii at death there will have to be a probate if the assets are worth $100,000 or more. The probate will be a court filing and you can look for it on the Hoohiki website. http://hoohiki1.courts.state.hi.us/jud/Hoohiki/main.htm Aloha, Jon A. Zahaby, Esq.