My grandfather passed away about ten years ago and no one told my mom for over a year that her father was dead. How can I investigate probate?

If there was a will it would have to be filed for probate and you should check the public records in the city and state where grandfather died. There may have been a trust. If that is the case there would be no filing. If you feel that you were left money you should contact family who inherited upon the death of your grandfather and ask. If you receive no answer and think that there are things being hidden from you you should see a trust and estate attorney to see the options for moving forward. 10 years is a very long time. This Trust/estate is likely long settled. Whomever was trustee or executor would have been under a fiduciary duty to settle the estate, and it is very unlikely that they violated that duty. I myself would simply move on with my own life.

It’s possible that there was no will and/or no probate. In some circumstances, the surviving spouse (or other house occupant) just keeps on living in the house and paying the outgoings even if they are in the wrong name. If nothing changes, nothing forces any legalities to be done. I had a query once from someone in these circumstances, where the farm was still in the name of an ancestor who had been dead for 50 years.

Do you know anyone local who could call at the address and see if step-GM is living there? Or perhaps the police? It’s an obvious first step!

Probate is done at the County seat level. You need to contact the Probate office in the County ur grandfather resided. If a Will was probated it will be on file. You can ask for a copy but there maybe a fee. You maybe able to obtain it on-line. You can then read it and see if there were any beneficiaries. Usually in a marriage, Wills between couples are whats yours is mine. Like said, your Grandfather may have had it set up that Mom got the house upon his death. If so, this would not go thru probate.

People talk but do not follow thru. Grandpa may not have made a Will or changed it. He may have had an illness that used up what money he had. If no Will the State determines who inherits. Wife and children are first. Grandkids only come into the picture when the wife and children are deceased.

Look up your Grandfather's obituary on-line. His name, town and state. It may mention what his passed of. If not, see what charities are being mentioned that donations can be sent to in his memory. If its Heart Assoc or Cancer then you pretty much know what he died of.

His wife, do the same thing, put her name in search with town and State and see what comes up. Some info will tell you the address where they live and phone#.

You do not need investigators or lawyers with the internet. Its been ten years and there may not be any info out there.

If you were mentioned to receive anything in the will, the probate court would have located you and taken care of getting you your inheritance. There could very well have been no inheritance left or your grandfather may have changed his mind about leaving you anything.

Contact the courts in your grandpa's city. Probate is public record.

If you can not find anything it is possible that he had a trust, that doesn't get probated. Anything with a named beneficiary doesn't get probated.

Did your mom get the house upon his passing? She would have been privy to the will or trust as a beneficiary. Unless this was a transfer on death.

It is very common for the wife to get everything. You and your brother may not have been named in his will or trust, so prepare yourself for that outcome.

Were you a minor when grandpa died?