unclaimed property and stocks

What is the name of your state? Alabama
My father died in 1987 leaving all assets to my mother. In 1999 my mother died leaving me her assets and naming me exectutor of her estate. I inherited stocks in my father's name. Also, I recently claimed unclaimed property. The bank won't cash the checks for the unclaimed property. I am having difficulty changing the name on the stock certificates. My father's estate was not probated. My mother's estate was probated. What can I do to get control of these assets?

Whose name is shown as payee on the checks from the unclaimed property dept.?

Since no one served as your father's executor/administrator, you will need to file paperwork to open up a probate proceeding just to handle whatever assets remain (the stock) and you will apply to be administrator (NOT executor, since executor is used only when there is a will). You will receive, soon after filing, official papers from the court (called "letters testamentary") that will give you official, legal authority to claim all assets that are left that belong to your father. After you show these papers to the bank, they will have no problem cashing these checks for you.

You would also present these papers to the stock brokerage house that is presently handling your father's stocks, and you would then notify them that you are interested in selling the stocks and the check would be sent to you.

How much are these stocks worth today?

DANDY DON

Ive been there

I had and am having same problem, but if you are the executor, you should get an attorney, you must file papers at your courthouse and you will be legally the independent successor, that is how you cash them or change them to your name. Until you do this you cant cash them, the courthouse will give you documents proving your the independent successor and then you will have complete control.
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