What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan
My father passed away in May. He had been married to my mother for 41 years - she passed away in 2002. He remarried just over 4 years ago.
My older brother was named as the Executor of my Dad's estate, while in the hospital my father stated to both my brother and his new wife that he wanted his estate divided equally among the three children (my brothers and I) and his new wife.
Prior to my father's marriage to his new wife - my Dad stated specifically that he had seen an attorney and made sure that the property and estate that he and my Mom had would stay in our family and what was accumulated during his marriage by he and his wife would be hers.
Now we find that he did NOT have a will, however - he left all of his property in my deceased Mom's name (probably his life insurance too) - he did not put his new wife on anything. Not even the house he built after my Mom's death. I believe the land that the house was built on is in my Mom's name. As is all of the other property they accumulated during their marriage.
My brother set up a meeting with an attorney who called in another attorney to represent the wife (one for her and one for us) - they were to get the papers and documents and help us divide the estate. My Dad's new wife acknowledged how he wanted it divided to the attorney - but decided that he didn't really mean it...
Now I get a notice from yet another new attorney she has hired and one from an attorney my brother has hired to represent him.
This estate is worth several million dollars - probably more. All of the furniture in the house was my Mom's - my Mom's jewelry has disappeared.
I don't know the name of the attorney my Dad saw, his new wife - if she knows - will not say. (She claims that she has no idea where the furniture in the house came from.... Seriously. Like the furniture fairies came by and dropped it off when no one was home.)
How is an estate without a will divided in Michigan. What happens is things are in my Mom's name? Should I call the attorney representing the new wife or the attorney representing my brother? I'm at a loss. I have letters from my Mom that state how she wanted her things divided among us kids. Does that even matter?
My father passed away in May. He had been married to my mother for 41 years - she passed away in 2002. He remarried just over 4 years ago.
My older brother was named as the Executor of my Dad's estate, while in the hospital my father stated to both my brother and his new wife that he wanted his estate divided equally among the three children (my brothers and I) and his new wife.
Prior to my father's marriage to his new wife - my Dad stated specifically that he had seen an attorney and made sure that the property and estate that he and my Mom had would stay in our family and what was accumulated during his marriage by he and his wife would be hers.
Now we find that he did NOT have a will, however - he left all of his property in my deceased Mom's name (probably his life insurance too) - he did not put his new wife on anything. Not even the house he built after my Mom's death. I believe the land that the house was built on is in my Mom's name. As is all of the other property they accumulated during their marriage.
My brother set up a meeting with an attorney who called in another attorney to represent the wife (one for her and one for us) - they were to get the papers and documents and help us divide the estate. My Dad's new wife acknowledged how he wanted it divided to the attorney - but decided that he didn't really mean it...
Now I get a notice from yet another new attorney she has hired and one from an attorney my brother has hired to represent him.
This estate is worth several million dollars - probably more. All of the furniture in the house was my Mom's - my Mom's jewelry has disappeared.
I don't know the name of the attorney my Dad saw, his new wife - if she knows - will not say. (She claims that she has no idea where the furniture in the house came from.... Seriously. Like the furniture fairies came by and dropped it off when no one was home.)
How is an estate without a will divided in Michigan. What happens is things are in my Mom's name? Should I call the attorney representing the new wife or the attorney representing my brother? I'm at a loss. I have letters from my Mom that state how she wanted her things divided among us kids. Does that even matter?