What is the name of your state? CA
My mother passed away suspiciously in 1990- the police said they couldn't do anything because her husband had her cremated immediately. I was 22 and did not have any legal guidance, so I went to a lawyer Stephen E. Lawton (disbarred in 2003) gave him $1000- money that I didn't have. A paralegal called me a couple of times to ask me the stepfathers name etc. Other than that I didn't even get phone calls returned from Stephen Lawton.
My mother kept all of her insurance policies in my sister & my names, I was on her bank accounts not him. She had her house in her name as sole & separate property. She had recently sold the home and had the cash in the bank-I was told that since its cash it is no longer sole & separate but a part of community property. I was told by her husband that because he is the surviving spouse he is entitled to everything despite my name being on the accounts. I got furniture that had been our great grandmothers. How do I find out how this happened. I have recently found out that when someone dies and leaves property it is supposed to go through probate. Is it true that with insurance if it is paid in payments that it goes to the spouse and not the designated person? My name was the beneficiary- his was not and the county of LA (my mom worked for the county of Los Angeles since she was 18)told me that he/husband got it because it was made in payments, that I would get it if it was lump sum. From what I remember it was about $400K
?1- Is there anyway for me to look up had it was distributed? if so how?
?2- Is there any way to recoup?
?3- He has no children- When he dies am I entitled to anything since he took all my mothers money?
(he seriously was living in a garage/out of his car when they met)
Thank you in advance
My mother passed away suspiciously in 1990- the police said they couldn't do anything because her husband had her cremated immediately. I was 22 and did not have any legal guidance, so I went to a lawyer Stephen E. Lawton (disbarred in 2003) gave him $1000- money that I didn't have. A paralegal called me a couple of times to ask me the stepfathers name etc. Other than that I didn't even get phone calls returned from Stephen Lawton.
My mother kept all of her insurance policies in my sister & my names, I was on her bank accounts not him. She had her house in her name as sole & separate property. She had recently sold the home and had the cash in the bank-I was told that since its cash it is no longer sole & separate but a part of community property. I was told by her husband that because he is the surviving spouse he is entitled to everything despite my name being on the accounts. I got furniture that had been our great grandmothers. How do I find out how this happened. I have recently found out that when someone dies and leaves property it is supposed to go through probate. Is it true that with insurance if it is paid in payments that it goes to the spouse and not the designated person? My name was the beneficiary- his was not and the county of LA (my mom worked for the county of Los Angeles since she was 18)told me that he/husband got it because it was made in payments, that I would get it if it was lump sum. From what I remember it was about $400K
?1- Is there anyway for me to look up had it was distributed? if so how?
?2- Is there any way to recoup?
?3- He has no children- When he dies am I entitled to anything since he took all my mothers money?
(he seriously was living in a garage/out of his car when they met)
Thank you in advance
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