QUESTION
Re my Question about our Aunt by marriage. You asked about my father~in~law, he is desceased as his brother.
Asked on Aug 24th, 2012 on Wills and Probate - New Jersey
More details to this question:
Like I stated they have no kids and she was an only child. So she has no realtives left on her side. We have contacted elder attorneys in Nj they want 7500 dollars for them to even get involved. We love our Aunt and we just want to make sure she is ok and that her finaces are being properly taken care off. We tried to set up a meeting with her attorney which she refuses. She asked me and my brother in law How we knew about the taxes not being pd and Why we looked. we stated because we wanted to try to find her. My uncles orig will had my father in law getting his inheritance if his wife was desceased. We don't have that kind of money to invest but just want to make sure she is ok. Even my Uncles's family attorney over the yrs has been nothing but rude and said he won't tell us where our Aunt is and Sadly my Aunts current attorney even has threatened a restraining order against my Uncles God son. I sit back and just smh , like I can't even make this up!!! Signed a lost family~~
2 ANSWERS
If you can't hire an attorney, I suggest you contact your local agency for aging, and inform them of the circumstances. They should have an investigative unit to deal with claims of financial exploitation, as well as to make sure she is physically okay.
Answered on Aug 24th, 2012 at 9:27 AM
2 Awards
Chances are, if she is in a facility, someone has to be paying her bills, in charge of selling the house, etc. Its strange that everyone is so uptight about family members being involved, it does make me suspicious. Its hard to figure out what's gong on, but $7500 just to get involved at all seems a little high. Making a few phone calls and finding out if she has a guardian might be an easier first step for you. In order to sell a house, a person has to do it by a Power of Attorney or a guardianship. Start by calling the surrogate's office in the county in which you live. find out if your uncle's will was probated, if it was, you can get a copy, its a public document. find out if there are any current cases involving your aunt. Was a guardianship filed? Is there a Power of Attorney? If she is in a facility and you are concerned about her, call the Office of the Ombudsmen for the Elderly in Trenton, they can help you. If she is not in a facility, call you county Board of Social Services and ask them for help finding out about her condition. Try all of these things on your own before expending the money. Good luck !
Answered on Aug 24th, 2012 at 8:24 AM
Diana L. Anderson, Certified Elder Law Attorney This response is not legal advice and does not establish any form of attorney/client relationship