How does probate law work in Georgia?
by admin ~ March 1st, 2008 . Filed under: Law & Ethics .
sabuilder asked:
My husband’s stepmother recently died in the state of Georgia. There was no life insurance and no will. His stepsister seems to be taking things over. She seems to think that she should inherit everything, but that all of us should take care of the burial bills, the hospital bills, basically all of his stepmother’s outstanding bills. She wants to live in the family home and wants everybody to pitch in on repairs. This doesn’t seem fair if my husband is entitled to nothing from the estate.
Galen Aslanian
My husband’s stepmother recently died in the state of Georgia. There was no life insurance and no will. His stepsister seems to be taking things over. She seems to think that she should inherit everything, but that all of us should take care of the burial bills, the hospital bills, basically all of his stepmother’s outstanding bills. She wants to live in the family home and wants everybody to pitch in on repairs. This doesn’t seem fair if my husband is entitled to nothing from the estate.
Galen Aslanian
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:31 pm
He needs to go to the county probate clerk and file forms for an intestate estate; they will appoint someone to administer the affairs, debits and assets and see that the remainder are split fairly under the terms of georgia law.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
There are so many complexities in this question that you really should consult a lawyer. Was your husband official adopted by your stepmother? Did his stepmother treat your husband as he own child? Does the stepmother’s estate consist of her own assets or did she inherit from your husband’s father estate? All these questions, and many more, have bearing on how the estate would be divided under GA law. Unless you are willing to devote a lot of time and effort to fighting for what your husband deserves, you should consult an attorney.