Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

I was left a zero coupon bond when my grandmother passed in 1998, which I was supposed to be able to receive when I turned 25. I am 29 now and still have not received anything, my uncle in the executor of the will and the estate and I had asked him about 3 years ago and he said that the estate was held up because of environmental issues, because my grandmother part owned a trash company, and I am not sure if he meant the business was holding up the estate or it was the actual estate that was holding up the will. But, if there was to be a zero coupon bond purchased for me at the time of her death, as she left in her will, than wouldn't it have just been a bond, which I should have been able to just cash out on my 15th birthday? My uncles have lots and lots of money and they know that I can not afford to fight them in court, so I am stuck and I need advice on how to go about sorting this out and trying to receive my money? Thanks


Asked on 5/07/12, 6:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Rachel Hunter

Without reviewing the will or documents, I cannot say what is or is not going on. The estate should have been probated by now. Who was to hold the money for you while you were a minor? Was there some kind of trust? Who was the trustee? How much money are we talking about? What kind of environmental issues were there? Was there anything at all for the heirs to inherit? They cannot keep assets if monies were owed because of en vironmental issues if the EPA or PA DER had a claim for reimbursement.

What was done in the probate file? Your question is to complex for a lawyer here to be able to answer you without seeing the will or documents in the probate file. If I were you, I would get a copy of the relevant docunments from the probate file (will, inventory, and final accounting) and pay an attorney to review it.

However, if this was back in 1998, why exactly have you waited so long? I hope that you are not out of time.

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Answered on 5/07/12, 9:16 pm


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