How can I find out if mom had a will?
Almost 7 years later I still don't know how or why my mom died. She was very well off financially. What happened to the $? I was told 4 days after the funeral. To never come back to my mom's house by my stepfather.
Your "how to"s are all strictly practical matters, which means they should be very do-able; but how you go about it may vary according to where you are. If you would like to share more details, I'm sure forum members will be able to point you in the right direction.
To this day, 15 years later, she has never produced the will . . . . .we now call her "sheofwhomewenolongerspeak"
You can go to the county seat and see if Moms will was probated. If so, its been filed and is public record. You then can see who was executor and if you are a beneficiary. If so to the beneficiary, it was up to the Executor to contact you that the will was being probated. The Executor is responsible for seeing that beneficiaries receive their inheritance. If you were beneficiary and received nothing, ur entitled to an accting of how the inheritance was distributed. If none of this was done, then ask probate how to handle it.
Have you had no contact at all with any others in your family since her death?
If you go to the county courthouse to get a copy of the death certificate, ask the records or clerk's office about a will having been filed. It's my understanding that in Michigan, the will is to be filed after someone dies, even if there's no probate proceeding. I, however, have not filed nor do I intend to file my father's Will for reasons of security, and won't do so until his house has been sold.
I think this question underwent some substantial editing between its first replies and as it stands now.
Rameyer, I'm still sorry for your loss and for the circumstances, which must have been distressing. Do you mind if I ask why you're addressing the issues again now after so many years have gone by?
The death certificate will state what caused your mother's death.
Seven years after the event, if your mother left substantial property in her will it must have been through probate and the will then becomes a public document. You can find it by looking up "probate court for [your mother's county of residence]" and getting in touch with them.
But the elephant in the room, if you won't mind my saying, is whatever made your stepfather so angry or bitter that he did not inform you of your mother's illness, death or funeral but instead told you never to darken your late mother's door again. That you haven't done a thing about it in nearly seven years makes me think you didn't feel you were in a position to protest or argue, and of course I wonder why.
You will understand that we can have no way of knowing who the injured parties are or what took place among them. I can understand that your own illness has made you wish to tie up loose ends and resolve conflicts. But are you clear about what you want?