Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in New York

Re: mY FATHERS WILL

You first have to find out whether your father had a will. You should speak to your father's wife. If he had an attorney, you should also ask the attorney.

If your father did not have a will, that means he died intestate. Your father's assets would be distributed by law. This means that if he had a wife, assets would be distributed $50,000 + 1/2 estate to wife and 1/2 estate to you.

If your father had a will, the assets would be divided in accordance with the will.

Of course, if assets were distributed before death (ex. joint account with right of survivorship), these assets would pass outside a will or intestacy laws).

Mike