Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York

Re: Father trying to take daughter's inheritance

Perhaps a visit to the several banks at which grandmother may have banked will disclose the account. If this is inconvenient, it is appropriate to write a letter to the banks to determine if your daughter is entitled to the account. That's for starters, anyway.

Re: Father trying to take daughter's inheritance

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ACCOUNT WAS SET UP TO AVOID BEING INCLUDED IN THE ESTATE THAT PASSES UNDER THE WILL; PROBABLY HAD AN ACCOUNT REGISTRATION IN BOTH NAMES, WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP OR AS POD YOUR DAUGHTER. EITHER WAY, THE ACCOUNT PASSES TO YOUR DAUGHTER INDEPENDENT OF THE WILL. IF YOUR EX HAS BEEN APPOINTED EXECUTOR OF HIS MOTHER'S WILL (YOU MAY HAVE TO CHECK THIS WITH THE SURROGATE'S COURT WHERE HIS MOTHER LIVED WHEN SHE DIED), SHE CAN FILE WITH THE SURROGATE TO COMPEL HIM TO ACCOUNT TO HER FOR THE ACCOUNT. BEING 20, SHE IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED A MINOR SO SHE CAN GET THE ACCOUNT OUTRIGHT. HE IS OBLIGATED BY LAW TO DIVULGE THE INFORMATION. NORMAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT CHECKING WITH KNOWN BANKS IS ALSO APPROPRIATE. WHILE SHE MAY NEED A DEATH CERTIFICATE, UNLESS THE BANK ALREADY HAS ONE, SHE IS ENTITLED TO GET AN ORIGINAL AS THE GRANDDAUGHTER, FOR A SMALL FEE, BY CONTACTING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHERE HER GRANDMOTHER LIVED. SHE MAY HAVE TO EXPLAIN HER NEED TO GET IT. WHILE IT IS NOT UNUSUAL, I AM SADDENED TO HEAR THAT A FATHER WANTS TO CHEAT HIS DAUGHTER, EVEN IN A DIVORCE SITUATION. I GUESS GRANDMA KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING.