What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? PA
My dad was dating a woman who moved to Ohio during their relationship. he Purchased a home to be built in PA in 2006. In 2007 his home sold and he moved in with his girlfriend until his home build was complete. He moved in May of 2006 and his home was to be finished in January 2007. In October 2006, he suffered a major heart attack in OH. He was in a local hospital where they decided he was to be airlifted to Cleveland Clinic. While the helicopter was running outside, she had her minister friend come in and marry them. He was on morphine - the minister drove 2 hours to do this - we (Dad's 3 children) were driving from NY to OH, all the way speaking to the girlfriend - who coincidentally did not mention the intention of marriage to us in not one of the 20 or so phone calls that morning. When questioned about the marriage later on my dad's reply was "at my age (70) am I supposed to get a divorce?? My mom passed in 1998.
He finally was well enough to visit his PA home in February of 2007. His belongings from his original home with my mother were moved in to the PA home. There were very few items that needed to be purchased to complete the house. Since my dad was such a complicated case, he needed to follow up monthly with doctors in OH, so he made his way back and forth every month. He passed in 2009, 2 years and 11 months after the forced marriage took place.
In 2006 he made his will. It read that the girlfriend was to receive $15K and the remainder of his estate was to be divided between the children equally. The PA house was immediately deeded to us children upon completion.
After his death, his wife went to the PA home to get her clothing. Problem is she took her clothing and some other things from the residence including dad's guns, jewelry, appliances and money. She also removed dad's file box from the house which included his will - she thought was the only copy. Believing this, she filed to become Executrix of his will in OH, only to find that my sister was appointed Executrix in PA - according to his will.
She is now contesting the will, which we all knew was coming. She is also staking claim to the items in Dad's PA home - things he made for my mother, items bought by my mother, things we grew up with. I mean, even his shop smith which he purchased in the early 1970's she is claiming. His organ which was a present from my mom to my dad - my parent's bedroom set... A lamp he made for the dining room when we were growing up.... I mean come on... Sidenote: we do not want anything they purchased together...
She also tried to fight his residency. She claims he lived in OH and has voter registration card for him... my dad never voted EVER. His income taxes state his residency as PA and hers as OH. Her and her lawyers got us a court date in OH to fight where the will should be probated. How is THAT possible? She is offering to cut us a "deal" in which she would get 1/3 of the remainder of the estate (I say that because money is still unaccounted for) and $20K and she will "go away" as she put it.
There is still the question in our minds as to what actually happened to dad. She took over his medication dosing, gave him cakes and sweets (as a diabetic) stating she makes up for it by giving him more insulin at night, took his blood pressure readings, did all his dialysis... nowhere int eh hospital records did it indicate his "condition" demised or that he was in danger of dying. He was at the doctor on Tuesday and passed on Thursday. Do we need to exhume the body? We are sickened over this.
In the meantime, account balances of CDs and other accounts do not match the paperwork that my father handed to my sister just 3 months before he passed. She stated herself to my Dad's brother and niece that there was over 100K in an account that has now "disappeared". She got the new car, claims the jewelry he wore everyday of his life since I can remember does not exist... She is asking that the funeral expenses be omitted from the estate - and herself not liable for any of the cost as well. Nice... huh?
Can she go after the things that were Dad's before the marriage? As far as contents of the house? How come she does not have to answer where the missing money is? How come she gets to have court in her state and we had to hire a lawyer in 2 different states???? 3 different states if it goes to her state!!!
As his children, do we not have any rights at all?
My dad was dating a woman who moved to Ohio during their relationship. he Purchased a home to be built in PA in 2006. In 2007 his home sold and he moved in with his girlfriend until his home build was complete. He moved in May of 2006 and his home was to be finished in January 2007. In October 2006, he suffered a major heart attack in OH. He was in a local hospital where they decided he was to be airlifted to Cleveland Clinic. While the helicopter was running outside, she had her minister friend come in and marry them. He was on morphine - the minister drove 2 hours to do this - we (Dad's 3 children) were driving from NY to OH, all the way speaking to the girlfriend - who coincidentally did not mention the intention of marriage to us in not one of the 20 or so phone calls that morning. When questioned about the marriage later on my dad's reply was "at my age (70) am I supposed to get a divorce?? My mom passed in 1998.
He finally was well enough to visit his PA home in February of 2007. His belongings from his original home with my mother were moved in to the PA home. There were very few items that needed to be purchased to complete the house. Since my dad was such a complicated case, he needed to follow up monthly with doctors in OH, so he made his way back and forth every month. He passed in 2009, 2 years and 11 months after the forced marriage took place.
In 2006 he made his will. It read that the girlfriend was to receive $15K and the remainder of his estate was to be divided between the children equally. The PA house was immediately deeded to us children upon completion.
After his death, his wife went to the PA home to get her clothing. Problem is she took her clothing and some other things from the residence including dad's guns, jewelry, appliances and money. She also removed dad's file box from the house which included his will - she thought was the only copy. Believing this, she filed to become Executrix of his will in OH, only to find that my sister was appointed Executrix in PA - according to his will.
She is now contesting the will, which we all knew was coming. She is also staking claim to the items in Dad's PA home - things he made for my mother, items bought by my mother, things we grew up with. I mean, even his shop smith which he purchased in the early 1970's she is claiming. His organ which was a present from my mom to my dad - my parent's bedroom set... A lamp he made for the dining room when we were growing up.... I mean come on... Sidenote: we do not want anything they purchased together...
She also tried to fight his residency. She claims he lived in OH and has voter registration card for him... my dad never voted EVER. His income taxes state his residency as PA and hers as OH. Her and her lawyers got us a court date in OH to fight where the will should be probated. How is THAT possible? She is offering to cut us a "deal" in which she would get 1/3 of the remainder of the estate (I say that because money is still unaccounted for) and $20K and she will "go away" as she put it.
There is still the question in our minds as to what actually happened to dad. She took over his medication dosing, gave him cakes and sweets (as a diabetic) stating she makes up for it by giving him more insulin at night, took his blood pressure readings, did all his dialysis... nowhere int eh hospital records did it indicate his "condition" demised or that he was in danger of dying. He was at the doctor on Tuesday and passed on Thursday. Do we need to exhume the body? We are sickened over this.
In the meantime, account balances of CDs and other accounts do not match the paperwork that my father handed to my sister just 3 months before he passed. She stated herself to my Dad's brother and niece that there was over 100K in an account that has now "disappeared". She got the new car, claims the jewelry he wore everyday of his life since I can remember does not exist... She is asking that the funeral expenses be omitted from the estate - and herself not liable for any of the cost as well. Nice... huh?
Can she go after the things that were Dad's before the marriage? As far as contents of the house? How come she does not have to answer where the missing money is? How come she gets to have court in her state and we had to hire a lawyer in 2 different states???? 3 different states if it goes to her state!!!
As his children, do we not have any rights at all?
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