What to do if I was not notified that I found out my estranged father died?
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What to do if I was not notified that I found out my estranged father died?
I was shocked that no one tried to contact me, especially since a search would have been very easy. In addition I have 2 sisters and neither of them were notified either. Do I have any rights to his estate? Did they have the right to cremate him? According to the funeral home the only next of kin shown was his sister. I contacted his sister (which is how I found out about the death) but it was as if she was reluctant to give me details.
Asked on January 16, 2014 under Estate Planning, Texas
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
You need to immediately get an attorney and run an initial search to see what assets he had. Then you and your sisters need to file in probate to open probate on him and obtain his assets. You may need to consider suing his sister as it seems like she may have taken the gains (hence why you were not notified). If he had a will, however, that specifically excluded you and your sisters, then you need to find out if this was the case.
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