My uncle recently passed away within a couple of months of learning he had Stage 4 lung cancer. Within days of his diagnosis, my aunt (his sister) immediately went to his home with a lawyer/personal friend. A will was written naming one of her daughters as sole beneficiary. I saw the will and even though I am no lawyer, it didn't make any sense. There was no mention of the daughter he fathered years ago and the wording was something to the effect there were no children born to him on or after the date the will was drawn up. Although my uncle had no part of the child's life for reasons known only to him and the girl's mother, she is his heir and it's a glaring omission in this will. He never paid child support as far as I know, but the girl's mother asked him to let her know when he began to draw Social Security so their daughter could receive benefits as well since she would have still been a minor. I feel as though my uncle's sister took extreme advantage of my uncle and his very vulnerable state of mind. I have nothing to gain, and this sounds terrible, but I cannot stand the thought of that woman & her daughter benefiting so tremendously, yet so deceptively. When my dad asked about the daughter & not even getting an honorable mention, he was met with stony silence and all contact has been stopped. He called the Social Security office and was told he would need his SS # to proceed. He doesn't have that. Any suggestions?
you said:
There was no mention of the daughter he fathered years ago and the wording was something to the effect there were no children born to him on or after the date the will was drawn up.
I don't know why the girl's mother didn't want my uncle to be a part of her life, perhaps she just wanted a sperm donor, but that doesn't change the fact my uncle died, left a fairly sizable estate of which she is entitled.
I wish I had had the conversation with my uncle before he passed about his wishes regarding his daughter. I always felt like it was a painful subject for him (not getting to help raise his only child) and never broached the subject before.
The will needs to be probated - call you local county clerk's office and find out when the will appears on the docket - show up and inform the judge about the daughter. Or prepare an affidavit and deliver it to the clerk.