No next of kin

[buckeyefarmer]

If a relative dies with no immediate family, and no will, what's the process for settling the estate? This is in Michigan, moms cousin passed, has no kids. My family each got a letter from a company saying they would take care of the estate for a 25% cut. That was our notice that she had died......... This was fedex delivered, sent the day after she died.

 

[turnkey4099]

If a relative dies with no immediate family, and no will, what's the process for settling the estate? This is in Michigan, moms cousin passed, has no kids. My family each got a letter from a company saying they would take care of the estate for a 25% cut. That was our notice that she had died......... This was fedex delivered, sent the day after she died.

Ambulance chasing lawyer(s). See your local attorney for the details on what happens. Most simple estates do not require much "lawyering"

 

[Sigarms]

Ambulance chasing lawyer(s). See your local attorney for the details on what happens. Most simple estates do not require much "lawyering"

My uncle passed away who lived in the "family home" (home my grandparents bought when they came off the boat in the early 1900's). No will. It was a total cluster fiasco with my father being the executor.

The only advice I can offer is to walk and stay away if you don't need the money or there isn't anything of family value that you know you would like to keep.

My dad keeps saying he shouldn't have gotten involved, but was "elected to do so" by the family and lawyer due to his close location to the home.

 

[Groo]

My $0.02; get a local lawyer, but not that one.
If the estate wasn't somewhat significant, that ambulance chaser wouldn't chase.
Contact the other family members to agree on a 3rd party to disperse the estate evenly.

 

[Sigarms]

Contact the other family members to agree on a 3rd party to disperse the estate evenly.

This is where the potential fun begins... getting the family to agree on something

Sorry, just been an executor myself which was an ordeal itself being I was 400 miles away, and although I might of missed some things being an only child, one thing my dad has made easy for me is what goes where when he leaves this earth.

 

[bunyip]

Most deceased estates here cost from $5k to $20k depending upon complexity, 25% sounds excessive especially if a house is part of the estate, not familiar with your real estate prices but here you don't get much for under $400k or a wreck for $250k.
Sounds like no win no fee litigation, if you win you lose 50%.

 

[Logan]

My aunt died twenty years ago in NC with no will. She had a brother (my father) and sister who lived to adulthood. Her only living sibling 9my aunt) got 50%, and my brother and sisters got 50% (five of us). My brothers and sisters did nothing. The estate was divided by the probate court. No lawyer was involved as far as I know. If someone contests the division it gets cumbersome, and lawyers get most of it....

 

[quicksandfarmer]

It varies enormously depending on state law. The big questions to start with are what your state law says, how big the estate is, and who the living relatives are. The first question can probably be answered by a competent lawyer in fifteen minutes. The second and third questions may require some detective work.

A good summary of general principles is here:
What Happens If You Die Without a Will? - FindLaw

 

[KennyG]

Each state is different but this happened to a distant relative in Illinois. The court appointed a lawyer who researched and located all relatives. Then the court distributed the estate equally to the nearest relatives. Potential claimants did not need a lawyer unless they wanted to contest the court decision.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Each state is different but this happened to a distant relative in Illinois. The court appointed a lawyer who researched and located all relatives. Then the court distributed the estate equally to the nearest relatives. Potential claimants did not need a lawyer unless they wanted to contest the court decision.

That's exactly what this company does, they investigate and find relatives, and also take care of settling the estate. We dont expect too much money from this, so our inclination is to let them do it. My sister talked to dads lawyer.
There are several relatives, we know most of the genealogy already.
The funeral is wed, two of my sisters are going.