CloudySkies71
Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? TN
My mother passed away unexpectedly on December 26, 2007. In her will, she left me (her only child) her share of some land she co-owned with two other siblings. Everything else- house, cars, clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc.- she left to her spouse (my stepdad).
A few weeks ago, my stepdad remarried and moved to a different state. He abandoned the house that he and my mother shared and let it go into foreclosure. He left everything behind, including my moms ashes. He gave a key to the house to a neighbor, "C", and allegedly told her to do whatever she wanted with all the contents.
A family member, "M", contacted me to let me know what was happening, so I told them I wanted to make arrangements to get to my moms house to salvage some items of sentimental value- family pictures, her journals, etc. Things that reminded me of my mom and my childhood; nothing of any monetary value by any means- just sentimental things. "M" offered to call the neighbor who had the key and told her that I was wanting go through my moms house. She said that would be fine.
I found out a few days later that the neighbor contacted my ex wife and invited her to come get what she wanted, and she did. She drove four hours to my moms house and took everything she wanted for herself. When I found out about this I confronted her about it. Turns out she had no intentions of telling me what she'd done- I wasn't supposed to even find out! She and the neighbor had planned to keep it all a secret. She offered to return some of my mothers things to me, but kept a good portion for herself, and is refusing to give the rest to me. She's also refusing to tell me what all she took.
I know there is probably nothing that I can do legally, because my stepdad abandoned everything and told the neighbor they could do what they wanted, and the neighbor let my ex in the house, but this has been very upsetting to me. The will and the house is still in probate. I know that my stepdad couldn't care less what happens to my mom's things, but I do. What is the best way to handle this? Am I just out of luck?
My mother passed away unexpectedly on December 26, 2007. In her will, she left me (her only child) her share of some land she co-owned with two other siblings. Everything else- house, cars, clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc.- she left to her spouse (my stepdad).
A few weeks ago, my stepdad remarried and moved to a different state. He abandoned the house that he and my mother shared and let it go into foreclosure. He left everything behind, including my moms ashes. He gave a key to the house to a neighbor, "C", and allegedly told her to do whatever she wanted with all the contents.
A family member, "M", contacted me to let me know what was happening, so I told them I wanted to make arrangements to get to my moms house to salvage some items of sentimental value- family pictures, her journals, etc. Things that reminded me of my mom and my childhood; nothing of any monetary value by any means- just sentimental things. "M" offered to call the neighbor who had the key and told her that I was wanting go through my moms house. She said that would be fine.
I found out a few days later that the neighbor contacted my ex wife and invited her to come get what she wanted, and she did. She drove four hours to my moms house and took everything she wanted for herself. When I found out about this I confronted her about it. Turns out she had no intentions of telling me what she'd done- I wasn't supposed to even find out! She and the neighbor had planned to keep it all a secret. She offered to return some of my mothers things to me, but kept a good portion for herself, and is refusing to give the rest to me. She's also refusing to tell me what all she took.
I know there is probably nothing that I can do legally, because my stepdad abandoned everything and told the neighbor they could do what they wanted, and the neighbor let my ex in the house, but this has been very upsetting to me. The will and the house is still in probate. I know that my stepdad couldn't care less what happens to my mom's things, but I do. What is the best way to handle this? Am I just out of luck?