Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey

Inheritance

I was left an inheritance of 20k by my aunt (not blood-related) after she passed away in December of 2007. She left other people her home, jewelry, personal belongings.

I had spoken with the lawyer several months following her passing, and he asked me to get some papers notarized and I will get my money shortly after.

After I sent him the form (4 mo. ago), I followed up with a phone call, and his secretary said he would call me back, which he did not. I have called him about 30 times since then over the past months, and his secretary makes some excuse how he's busy with clients, phone call, or in court, and he still has no called me back.

Frustrated I left quite an angry message (no profanity or yelling) with him this past Saturday, asking him to call me back, and he is yet to call.

I'm not sure why he's dodging me, but I really desperately need this money, and it's impossible to get in contact with him. What is the best way to contact him without going through the executor of the will. He once mentioned that they might have to sell her property before paying me the money, but they will wait for the market to go back up, and this may take years. It's already been 13 months.

Am I entitled to this money now?


Asked on 2/03/09, 2:33 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Corbett Corbett Law Firm LLC

Re: Inheritance

I can't tell you whether or not you are entitled to the money now. Some estate matters take a long time to resolve. I can say that you are entitled to have your lawyer return your calls. You can tell the lawyer's staff that, if he does not return your call and explain the status, you will make a complaint to the NJ Office of Attorney Ethics. That should get his attention. If it does not, file the complaint, fire him, and hire another lawyer.

The great majority of lawyers will genuinely try to provide good services for their clients. Some problems are unintentional and others are unavoidable. However, there is rarely an excuse for not responding to a client's inquiry within a reasonable period. That kind of behavior casts the rest of us in a bad light and we like it even less than you do. So, if you do find it necessary to file a complaint with the OAE, you can be sure that you are doing doing that with the support of rest of the bar.

See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm

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Answered on 2/03/09, 5:55 pm


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