Who has rights to my late husband’s things?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Who has rights to my late husband’s things?
He died 3 weeks ago. No Will for our vacation home. 2 stepsons. Are they (1 actually) allowed to go into our cabin and take things without my knowledge? I am making the mortgage payments.
Asked on February 10, 2012 under Estate Planning, Arizona
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Sorry to hear about your husband.
Since your husband did not leave a Will, the rules of intestate succession determine inheritance. Intestate means dying without a Will.
Under intestate succession, you, the surviving spouse would inherit your husband's entire estate including the items your stepsons have illegally removed from the cabin. You could sue your stepsons for trespass and trespass to chattel or conversion. Trespass is the volitional entry onto the land of another without consent or legal privilege. This would apply to entering the cabin without your consent. Trespass to chattel is the intentional taking or damaging of the personal property of another without consent or legal privilege. Conversion is the intentional assumption of dominion and control over the personal property of another. Conversion is applicable if your stepsons are asserting ownership of the personal property they removed from the cabin to the exclusion of your rights as owner. Conversion is an unauthorized act which deprives you, the owner of your property permanently or for an indefinite time.
If your stepsons took the items and are going to keep them permanently or for an indefinite time, your lawsuit would be for conversion instead of trespass to chattels. Your damages (the amount of compensation you are seeking in your lawsuit) for conversion would be forced sale which is the replacement cost of the items.
You would file one lawsuit naming your stepsons as defendants. Your lawsuit would have the following separate causes of action (claims): trespass and conversion. If the items are returned after a short period of time, then your cause of action would be for trespass to chattels instead of conversion.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.