(01-22-2001)
Generally speaking, if a beneficiary cannot be located WITHIN 90 DAYS from when the will was filed, his/her share of the estate must be assigned to a COURT-APPOINTED TRUSTEE, not the Executor.
A genealogist or private investigator can help you locate a beneficiary if you have at least his name and some idea of how old he is and what states he may have lived in.
Technically there is no statute of limitations, because any time that a heir's money has been possibly misappropriated by someone else, then a crime has occurred that can be prosecuted. What type of relationship that the adopted father had with his son (or the fact that he may be a deadbeat) DOES NOT REALLY MATTER--AS LONG AS THE SON WAS NAMED AS A BENEFICIARY, HE IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE HIS INHERITANCE.
SINCERELY,
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