Is there a central place in your State where copy of wills are kept?

Heather, I'm in Wisc, my Mom is in Illinois now where my parents and Elsie lived. I don't know about a central place, but I highly doubt she ever even did a will. I mean she didn't even get a headstone for her parents grave. Denial, I suppose.

Did you check to see if she had a safe deposit box? That's where many people put their Will when they have one. Some places you can file a Will with the county, so have you checked there? Sounds like you have no idea if she had an attorney, but if you could find out about an accountant or something, they may know who her attorney was. Clergy? The odds aren't very good if there's no safe deposit box and nobody checked the house for a Will before disposing of the property. I imagine you could talk to a lawyer about getting a subpoena to search the contents that are left but is it worth it?

The importance of a Will in certain situations just can't be stressed enough. And equally important to keep it updated. I did my Will in 1999 and after the events with my father's estate, I'm definitely changing my Will!

I assume you've investigated what happens in your state when a person dies intestate.

I was hired a couple times to search hard drives for Wills or the like when people have died. The problem is, having the Will on the computer isn't valid. You need the original, properly executed (according to the applicable laws) Will to be valid. Copies seldom, if ever, work, however I understand that the attorney's copy could be an exception in some cases.

When a friend of mine died, several in his family were confident he had a Will because of statements he made, promising to give his house to so-and-so and other stuff to someone else, but no Will was to be found. So the estate went to his parents. Personally, I suspect he intended to make a Will, but just didn't expect to drop dead at age 52. I had good intentions for 20 years before I got my Will done nearly ten years ago and have been meaning to update it for the last five years! But often we don't until we get a kick in the butt from something happening.

I fully understand your frustration. Estates are a PITA. Hope everything works out for you.

Oh that's a kick in the butt for me. I've been meaning to update my will for 9 years now, since my DH died. I've got to get that done. ASAP.
Leslie

Me too. I keep putting it off. The last time I did one was in 1982.

Don't have anything to add except I am sorry for your loss and Welcome back!!

Sleeper...I remember you. I'm sorry you and your mother have been through so much. I don't have anything to add either. I just want to say hello and offer you warm hugs.

Linda

Thanks for the welcome back Linda and ?Judy, is it? Are you the lady who lives in Beloit or Roscoe? Sorry if I mixed that up, but in any event thanks for the welcome back.

Cynic, sounds like you have legal experience. Thanks for the info. I guess the frustrating part about the whole thing is that my Mom and BIL were allowed into the house with a city administrator while they did a cursory search for information. They didn't find anything, but could barely stand to be in the house as the remains were still in the bathroom and the stench was unbearable. Mind you, this was June and think she died in February!

Well, there was 1000 dollars sitting on a table and my Mom said she knew the administrator saw it, but said he would step outside while they looked around. Tacitly saying "take the money". My mother of course is extremely honest and took the money and gave it to him to be included in the estate.

I know its too late to do anything, I'm just venting. Who knows, maybe this is the way "Aunt" Elsie wanted it to all play out.

But, she wasn't family, just a very good friend of your parents. I can't see how you would have any legal claim.

In most states, if there are no heirs, the money goes into the state treasury.

We would have legal claim if she actually made a will and filed it somewhere. After all, she did put my mother and brother as a beneficiary of one of her retirement accounts, which was very substanstial and we were the only family she had, though not in a legal sense. I just wish I had been more aggressive in gaining access to the house. She was a pack rat and it would have taken days,if not weeks, to go through things.

Sleeperblues, I've missed you! (but I didn't realize it has been two years) I knew you were taking care of your parents and they were living in your guest house for awhile. I'm sorry to hear of your Dad's passing and I remember the horrendous nursing home stories. Is your Mom living back in Illinois now?

I don't have any advice regarding your question, but I fear that if no written, signed will is found, then the State of Illinois will get the rest of the estate.

Does your State Treasurer have a website that you can go to to see if she has any unclaimed money/property? Kansas does and I recently checked it and found several family members' names here and there. If you have this available, just type in her last name. I started doing that because there's no way of knowing if the person used their full name, initials, etc. Some of the accounts have a co-owner listed and maybe you and/or your sibs names are on something of hers.

I hope you can find out more about her estate and how to follow through.

Leslie/KS