QUESTION
Must I legally inform other family about an inheritance?
Asked on Feb 08th, 2017 on Wills and Probate - Illinois
More details to this question:
About 15 years ago, I received a letter saying that my sister and I were entitled to a sum of money from a deceased relative. A genealogist failed to find documents proving we are indeed blood to this relative, so we gave up. I recently began researching again. There are other living family members who are blood to this relative, but we no longer speak due to personal matters. MUST we legally inform them of this inheritance to "split" it, or do we just prove to the state that WE are blood and move on?
1 ANSWER
Maryellen Sullivan
Hi - Most estates are closed within a couple years, so you should check with the probate court with your deceased relative lived to see whether the estate is still open. You do not have an obligation to inform other relatives. If these relaties are entitled to a part of the estate, however, that portion will be held for them by the estate or given to the state to hold in their name as unclaimed property. I would check the unclaimed property division to see whether any estate property is already being held there.
Answered on Feb 09th, 2017 at 10:46 AM