My father died without a will. Can his children just come into his home and take what they want?
No. No one has the legal right to take any of your father’s personal property. His property – his things – belong to his probate estate. If the estate is large enough to require probate, then only the executor or the administrator of the estate has the legal authority to take control over your father’s personal property. If anyone takes it, then the executor can sue the person who took it to make them return the property and, in some circumstances, force them to pay twice the value of the property taken from the probate estate.
Executor (noun):
Someone who is named in a Will as the person who will make sure that the instructions in the Will are properly followed. They are responsible for executing the Will, and are either appointed by the court or by the deceased person. They are responsible for taking care of a deceased person’s financial obligations, including disposing of property, paying bills and taxes, and making certain that the deceased last wishes are carried out according to the Will.
Estate (noun):
An estate includes the things that a person owns. The things left by someone who has died can be distributed based on a Will, Trust, or Intestate laws. Estates have to be administered in the Probate Court if the estate meets certain criteria.
If you have a loved one that died without a will and are unsure of what to do, do not hesitate to contact us. You may call us over the phone, or contact us via our quick and easy online form. We are here for you. It would be our pleasure to further assist you.