unclaimed assests

izzie01 · #1 11-14-2008, 01:19 PM

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? mn

I was doing a search for unclaimed assests under names from my father-in-laws family checking on some other stuff that was left to my husband. I checked under the name of my FIL aunt who raised him (his parents passed when he was very young) and aunt left some assests to him when she passed back in the late 70's. As far as I know she has no living decendents (her only daughter had died and her daughter was murdered in the 80's with no children) As far as I know no other decendents. Its a bit confusing. Anyhow, they where from a very small town in OK and name was very unusual so it most probably is her. I found it listed under the states web site of unclaimed property and it shows over $100. I printed out the "claim form" but it asks for copies of will and such which I don't have. I am attaching a letter to the claim form explaining situation and also asking them to verify if it is really the same person (FIL aunt). Has anyone ever had a outcome on something like this that won't drive you mad trying to verify if my husband would be heir to what ever property/assests this could be.

Dandy Don · #2 11-15-2008, 10:38 AM

Which state's unclaimed assets site had her name?

What city and state and county did she die in? You need to first check in the county where she died to see if probate was done on her estate and if it was find out the name of the executor and then notify the executor about this money. If there was no executor, your husband needs to file a claim for this money after opening up probate in the county where she died. A genealogist can then help conduct a search to see if there any living relatives or next of kin (I also do this type research all over the US) and if there are relatives he will split the money with them.

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA (tiekh@yahoo.com)

izzie01 · #3 11-15-2008, 01:23 PM

You're from OK! She lived most of her life around Crescent Okand died in Crescent. I have been working on and learning about mineral rights, my husband was to get his fathers mineral rights and it was to go through trust so his step siblings don't lay claim. The Trust lawyer (they lived in AR) didn't get FIL mineral rights entered into the Trust. So it's been a mess, I am working on it still, maybe have to hire a lawyer, but now the Trust lawyer says she will help, but I don't think she understands what she is doing. (we live in Mn so its been difficult to get anything done) I just don't have 1,000 of $ to spend getting this stuff straight. It's not life changing amt of $, maybe 200-300 a month at most but its my husbands. The step BIL was named Trustee but he wouldn't send info/was cashing the M.R. checks for almost 1 year after his mom died.(FIL died first and M.R. not to go to husband until both deceased) BIL is a drunken theiving idiot who stole from other Trust assests (He was stable when named trustee)We had to have him removed and his sister named (she lives in AR, I think I trust her) Anyway,,,enough bitchin bout that. (step mom had mineral rights too that were generating a couple of thousand or more every month)

Do I simply write the County in Oklahoma to request probate info, regest copy of will if any? Should I call the county and ask them to look up, or so I have to hire someone to find it? I don't even know if the amt. is worth bothering. If it costs thousands to get a few thousand why bother. I know she was wealthy at one time but this just maybe some uncashed tax check. Is there a way to find out if I should even bother. If it's worth bohtering for I could make it my new "hobby" I am possibly having someone do a geneology search for me that has acess to ancestors.com, but what a mess. My husband really knows nothing about his family.

Any clue as to what to do, where to start would be appreciated. Thank you

Dandy Don · #4 11-15-2008, 04:26 PM

Yes, that is where you start, by writing to the county probate court or calling them and asking for a copy of the will. Do a GOOGLE search by entering the name of the county and then the words "county clerk" or "court clerk"--some counties even have their probate records online now.

You can ask if there is a simplified procedure for smaller estates which means probate won't cost very much.

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA (tiekh@yahoo.com)

Dandy Don · #5 11-15-2008, 04:27 PM

Yes, that is where you start, by writing to the county probate court or calling them and asking for a copy of the will. Do a GOOGLE search by entering the name of the county and then the words "county clerk" or "court clerk"--some counties even have their probate records indexes online now where you can check by the decedent's name to see if probate has been opened.

You can ask if there is a simplified procedure for smaller estates which means probate won't cost very much.

DANDY DON IN OKLAHOMA (tiekh@yahoo.com)