Sister has important papers

[RLLOYD8108]

My mother passed away last month. My sister lives in North Carolina and my mother lived in Florida. Before my mother passed away my sister went to my mother's home and took a box containing all of my mother's important papers (insurance policies, deed to house, car title, birth certificates, my brother's paperwork concerning his adopted children and my step father's VA discharge paperwork). She refuses to give these papers to my step father or anyone else. Nothing in the box belonged to her. We have had a very rough time trying to collect on the insurance for my step father withoust the policies. He also would like to get the other paperwork back as he may need it in the future. What can we do to make her send him the paperwork? She has also called VA and managed to get his checks stopped because she told them that he was not living at the address that they had for him which was not true but I have managed to get them to investigate this and they will soon start them back. Is there anything we can do to prevent her from calling other organizations and telling them things that are not true?

 

[ALawyer]

I am sorry that at a time of family grief your sister is making things worse.

But one thing you might do, even if there are no assets of value, is seek to be appointed the administrator of your mother's estate, so you become the sole person with legal authority to act for her estate.

 

[RLLOYD8108]

sister has important papers

I am the administrator of my mother's estate but my sister won't give the important paperwork back. I don't know what else to do. She will not communicate with anyone. I don't know what she thinks that she is trying to do.

 

[ALawyer]

The probate court can issue an order compelling her to appear and deliver the papers under penalty of contempt. Ask your lawyer to get such an order.