What can be one regarding a missing Will?
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What can be one regarding a missing Will?
My grandfather passed away last year and at the time of his death had been living with a woman for 30 years (not married). About 28 years ago, he signed a Will stating that everything in his estate went to her. Then 2 years ago, he made another Will, which he put it into his safe box. A week before he died the woman he was living with had him put her name on his bank accounts, which had upwards of $55,000. My grandfather tried to have alone time with all of us but the woman never left him alone with us. When he was finally alone with my father, my grandfather told him what he wanted done with his estate and where his Will was. However, when my grandfather died the most recent Will disappeared; the only Will to be found was the original one which left everything to her.
Asked on January 20, 2014 under Estate Planning, Utah
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
Sorry to hear about your grandfather.
A petition should be filed with the Probate Court contesting (challenging) the validity of the original revoked Will based on undue influence of the woman who lived with your grandfather and your father's testimony about your grandfather's intent regarding his missing Will.
When a Will is lost, evidence should be established that the prior Will was revoked; otherwise it is still in effect.
Evidence (based on your grandfather's intent of how his estate was to be distributed) that the prior Will was revoked and the undue influence of the woman with whom he lived will result in the estate going to your grandfather's heirs. If evidence of your grandfather's intentiions regarding his estate is not proved, then the lost Will will result in the estate going to your grandfather's heirs by intestate succession. Intestate succession means dying without a Will.
Under intestate succession, the woman with whom your grandfather lived inherits nothing because she and your grandfather were not married.
Under intestate succession, the entire estate would go to the surviving spouse. Since your grandfather did not have a surviving spouse, the entire estate would go to his children. If your father is the only child of your grandfather, he would inherit the entire estate. If your father has brothers and sisters, your grandfather's estate would be divided equally among your grandfather's children. If there is a deceased child, who had children (your grandfather's grandchildren), they would inherit their deceased parent's share.
For example, if your grandfather had three children, each child would inherit 1/3. If your grandfather had three children and one is deceased who has one surviving child (grandchild), that surviving grandchild would inherit the 1/3 share of the estate his deceased parent would have inherited.
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