Do we have rights to my grandma’s property if she died married and possibly with a Will?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Do we have rights to my grandma’s property if she died married and possibly with a Will?

My grandma passed away 4 years ago. She had a house with lots of land that her husband (my step-grandpa) stayed in after she passed. We never asked if she had a Will because we knew he would be staying there taking care of the house. He remarried and cut off contact with my grandma’s side of the family. He just passed away and his wife has the house and the land. We are wondering how we go about finding out if my grandma had a Will and, if not, do we have any rights to her property.

Asked on January 13, 2012 under Estate Planning, Indiana

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

I am so sorry for your loss and for the problems that have arisen.  if Grandma had a Will and if it was probated then it was probated in the county in which she resided at the time of her death.  It became a public record when it was filed so you can take a look. Now, the question you have not answered here is whose name was the property in.  How was it held: jointly with your step-grandfather?  If yes then it probably passed to him automatically at the time of his death.  If only grandma's name was on it then that is a different story.  Now, dif it did pass to him did he then put the new wife on the deed?  You need to find this out.  You may indeed have a stake in the property but you will need an attorney to do a title search and then inquire for you.  Good luck. 


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption