<p>DH’s uncle, who had no children and never married, has died.
All of his heirs - the 6 children of his sister- are out here in Calif.
We have no knowledge of whether their is a will or not. A number of years ago he refused the suggestion of signing a trust , since it would have cost him $1500 to set it up and he was very frugal - to say the least… </p>
<p>The last time one of us ried to visit him they got only a peek inside his home - it was a “hoarders” nightmare.
He did not used electricity , only a wood stove for heat and the mildew was awful. </p>
<p>DH’s brother is going to go back to Mass to try to deal with everything, and I’m trying to help him find out what he needs to know about Mass probate law , especially if no will found. </p>
<p>The uncle did inherit a considerable amount 30+ years ago, as did his sister, and had always said “no one needed to worry about him financially.” We dont know if he invested the money or stuffed in in his mattress, but he was smart, eccentric and did not communicate with any of us, except in his annual mimeographed Xmas letter summarizing what had gone on in the world over the last 12 months.</p>
<p>WE have no idea if there is an estate or not, but doubt he died penniless.
So I would greatly appreciate guidance from someone who has been there or knows the requirements of Mass law to settle estates. </p>
<p>I know it isn’t what you want, but I would suggest going to an attorney for a consultation, at least. There may also be ‘law clinic’ places that have people help you do it yourself (there are some in California.) You won’t just need to file probate in the court, it sounds like you may need to trace assets in his name if he didn’t believe in a will, and wasn’t organized. </p>
<p>Did he have any advisors at all? Like, an accountant, real estate attorney, investment advisor, and so forth? They could recommend someone. Or, when your husband’s brother gets there, he might chat up some of the neighbors and ask for a recommendation from them.</p>
<p>ETA: If there is no will, why are you assuming that his sister’s six children are the heirs? IME, if there is no will the estate goes to spouse; if there is none, to children; if there are none, to parents; if there are none, to siblings. And it sounds like there are three remaining sibs – two brothers and a sister. Depends on state law.</p>
<p>I’m not clear from the OP’s post whether the uncle had two brothers and a sister, or whether there was the uncle and sister, and then the other siblings referred to in the OP are all the children of the sister. </p>
<p>Menlopark–I know an attorney in Worcester.
Sent me a PM and I can give you her name and number. She is a good friend who specializes in divorce law but has practiced in Worcester for 25 years and could easily recommend someone. </p>
<p>sorry all if my first post was not clear. The Uncles siblings, and parents are deceased.
He had no children and the only sibling who did have any children was my hubbys mother- the dead uncles sister. So her 6 children are his only heirs. </p>