New York State
My husband's birth mom died leaving a will which gives everything to him and his half brother, also adopted.
He hired a lawyer to handle the estate. When he told the lawyer he was adopted, the lawyer said it shouldn't matter since he is named in the will and is also the executor.
Then a few days later he informed my husband that since he is adopted, he is legally not related to his mom. I understand how adoption works, and I understand that when he was adopted his inheritance rights were cut off. But why should this matter if it was her choice to put him in the will?
Now the lawyer wants to conduct a "search for next of kin".
Why is this necessary since there are no known "relatives" and she left a will? Is there a New York law that states a search has to be made for relatives when "non relatives" are named in a valid will?
Thank you
Pat
My husband's birth mom died leaving a will which gives everything to him and his half brother, also adopted.
He hired a lawyer to handle the estate. When he told the lawyer he was adopted, the lawyer said it shouldn't matter since he is named in the will and is also the executor.
Then a few days later he informed my husband that since he is adopted, he is legally not related to his mom. I understand how adoption works, and I understand that when he was adopted his inheritance rights were cut off. But why should this matter if it was her choice to put him in the will?
Now the lawyer wants to conduct a "search for next of kin".
Why is this necessary since there are no known "relatives" and she left a will? Is there a New York law that states a search has to be made for relatives when "non relatives" are named in a valid will?
Thank you
Pat