Your question is difficult to answer because it raises more questions. Presumably you are asking if your aunt has a claim to an inheritance from your grandfather's estate. The answer depends on a number of things. Did your grandfather have a will, trust, or other estate plan in place at the time he died? If so, assuming the will or estate plan is valid, then that document should control how his estate is distributed. If the answer is no, then your aunt's right to inherit would depend upon whether your grandfather left a surviving spouse, how many other children of his survived, etc. But generally speaking, adopted children have the same status as biological children and changing last names, particularly for women, has no bearing on whether someone is or is not considered the heir of a decedent. You should consult an experienced probate attorney in your area.
Answered on Nov 11th, 2014 at 12:14 PM