What are a father’s rights to bre notified of his adult daughter’s death and share in her assets?
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What are a father’s rights to bre notified of his adult daughter’s death and share in her assets?
A 56 year old woman found dead in her apartment’ both of her parents still alive. The maternal family stopped speaking to her father because he sexually molested grandchild (deceased’s niece, never reported to authorities, many years ago). The father does not know of his daughter’s death. The maternal family wants to claim her remains and assets. Can they do this without father finding out? They don’t want contact with him. Perhaps publishing would be a way? Can grandfather claim assets/remains if h finds out they denied information of death?
Asked on May 6, 2014 under Estate Planning, Massachusetts
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
Under the laws of all states in this country, the next of kin is required to be notified of a relatives passing by law enforcement assuming the next of kin can be readily located. As to distribution of the assets of the decedent, such is done by the terms of her Will or trust. If there is none, then her estate is probated under your state's intestacy laws where the law sets forth who shares in her assets per statures in the Probate Code.
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