What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? West Virginia
Thank you in advance for reading about my circumstance. I apologize for the length of the post.
I have never known my paternal grandfather. He insisted on keeping it that way throughout my childhood and teenage years, and while I've never held it against him, I also have little emotional attachment to him as long as his overall wellbeing is being met. For the last decade, he has been living with Alzheimer’s. For much of that time, he was taken care of by my father who I also barely knew. Three years ago, my father took his own life and left my grandfather alone.
Their neighbors took him in and were granted guardianship over him. The area in which they lived is a rough area, and these particular people are known to take in elderly people and take care of them in exchange for money. The Sheriff distributes money from my grandfather’s pension checks to cover his living expenses, but they cannot get it all. The Sheriff controls this account and will continue to until my grandfather dies.
I have been made aware that due to there being no will, and being no one else to inherit this account, I am entitled to inherit whatever is there. My grandfather is a retired school principal, so while the salary is average by most standards, portions of his salary for the last three years could very well aggregate to tens of thousands of dollars by time of my inheritance.
I am not a person who likes to take things not owed to me, but as a medical student with a young family of my own, I would be lying to say this prospect is not exciting for me. It also feels comforting in a way that while my father’s family never accepted me while they lived, their resulting inheritance would go a long way toward satisfying my student loans, thus improving the future quality of life for my family.
My questions are the following:
Is there a set sum or proportion his caretakers can receive from his salary according to the law? (He shares a room in a smallish house in an inexpensive area. The county has visited multiple times and has deemed the site hospitable for him.)
Is there any way that me not being close to my grandfather in my life could negatively impact my inheritance?
While an attorney is never a bad idea, is it necessary in my circumstance? If so, then it would obviously be worth the fees monetarily once the situation plays out. However, as a medical student with two toddlers and a wife still paying for her multiple degrees worth of student loans, our budget is pretty constrained as it is, and avoiding attorney fees would be ideal.
Thank you so much for reading and answering any/all of my questions. Any feedback or advice is most welcomed. Thank you.
Thank you in advance for reading about my circumstance. I apologize for the length of the post.
I have never known my paternal grandfather. He insisted on keeping it that way throughout my childhood and teenage years, and while I've never held it against him, I also have little emotional attachment to him as long as his overall wellbeing is being met. For the last decade, he has been living with Alzheimer’s. For much of that time, he was taken care of by my father who I also barely knew. Three years ago, my father took his own life and left my grandfather alone.
Their neighbors took him in and were granted guardianship over him. The area in which they lived is a rough area, and these particular people are known to take in elderly people and take care of them in exchange for money. The Sheriff distributes money from my grandfather’s pension checks to cover his living expenses, but they cannot get it all. The Sheriff controls this account and will continue to until my grandfather dies.
I have been made aware that due to there being no will, and being no one else to inherit this account, I am entitled to inherit whatever is there. My grandfather is a retired school principal, so while the salary is average by most standards, portions of his salary for the last three years could very well aggregate to tens of thousands of dollars by time of my inheritance.
I am not a person who likes to take things not owed to me, but as a medical student with a young family of my own, I would be lying to say this prospect is not exciting for me. It also feels comforting in a way that while my father’s family never accepted me while they lived, their resulting inheritance would go a long way toward satisfying my student loans, thus improving the future quality of life for my family.
My questions are the following:
Is there a set sum or proportion his caretakers can receive from his salary according to the law? (He shares a room in a smallish house in an inexpensive area. The county has visited multiple times and has deemed the site hospitable for him.)
Is there any way that me not being close to my grandfather in my life could negatively impact my inheritance?
While an attorney is never a bad idea, is it necessary in my circumstance? If so, then it would obviously be worth the fees monetarily once the situation plays out. However, as a medical student with two toddlers and a wife still paying for her multiple degrees worth of student loans, our budget is pretty constrained as it is, and avoiding attorney fees would be ideal.
Thank you so much for reading and answering any/all of my questions. Any feedback or advice is most welcomed. Thank you.
