What happens when a parent dies without a Will?
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What happens when a parent dies without a Will?
My father died recently I have been his caregiver for over 20 years. The house is in his name but I was making the payments until the last year or so. We both lived in the house and it should have some equity in it. If I want to continue living in it and possibly sale it, what do I need to do?
Asked on January 12, 2017 under Estate Planning, Tennessee
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
If you are the only descendent (i.e. only son or daughter) and your father was not survived by a spouse, you will inherit the home (but will have to pay off any mortgage or liens to do so) unless your father had a will leaving it to someone else. But in the absence of a will, under the rules of "intestate succession," the home goes to the surviving children if there is no surviving spouse. Note that if you have siblings or there is a surviving spouse, you and your siblings and/or your father's surviving wife will share in the house; the fact that you were his caregiver does NOT, unfortunately, give you any greater share of or interest in the home unless he willed it to you.
The house (and anything else he owned, like a car, jewlery, a bank account, etc.) will have to go through probate before it is yours. You can get information about the process and instructions from your probate or surrogate's court, though you may wish to make things easy on yourself and hire a probate attorney to help you.
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