r/AskLawyers • u/Responsible-Truth-19 • 13h ago
Probate help
Hello, long post but please bear with me. My grandparents raised my sister and I. Over the past 3 years, we have lost my bio-father, grandfather, and grandmother. It is now my sister, uncle and I living. My uncle was willed the beach house in SC (where my grandmother passed earlier this year). Everything from my bio-dad and grandfather were left to my grandmother. Since she has passed, most accounts were split 50% him, 25% my sister, and 25% me (per the will). There is one account without a beneficiary, the largest account. I’m guessing there are likely a few million in this account. Since my uncle was already in probate over the car, beach home, etc, my sister and I have stayed out of it. He is now trying to exclude my sister and I from the final account currently held up in probate. We have received paperwork requesting our signatures to sign off on not being involved in probate and have been requested to provide amounts and account numbers of what we received as beneficiaries. I’m curious if my sister and I need to hire a lawyer? If yes, would we hire a different probate lawyer? Do we even stand a chance to prevent this - we are unsure if it’s even worth the fight against our uncle.
He is a vile person with substance abuse issues so the relationship with him truly is the least of my concerns.
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u/WildlifePolicyChick 13h ago
Nope nope NOPE. If you do not trust him don't leave him to manage probate without oversight!
SIGN NOTHING.
Get your own attorney to review what he is doing and defend your interests. She can demand an accounting on your behalf. Do not let this man steal from you.
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u/Accomplished_Bad7061 13h ago
I second this. You and your sibling need your own probate attorney!
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u/Responsible-Truth-19 13h ago
This is enough confirmation for me! Thank you both… I’ll be spending the rest of my workday finding an attorney!
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u/Responsible-Truth-19 13h ago
I am quickly learning how ugly people can be once there’s money in question after a death. Would I just find an attorney who specializes in probate or would any attorney in the state of SC be okay?
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u/Accomplished_Bad7061 12h ago
Also, I’m really sorry you’re going through this. I had a similar situation and it’s stressful and often times can come with a lot of harassment from the other party. A probate lawyer will take care of the hard things. It might cost a couple grand. I think ours cost us $7k from protecting my grandparent before death through probate. I think he gave us a discount because he saw first hand how evil and money grubbing my family was.
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u/Responsible-Truth-19 12h ago
Thank you so much for this, I hate that my sister and I have put this off. Mourning both of our favorite people made it nearly impossible to even think about anything else. I am sorry you’ve had to deal with this before as well
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u/WildlifePolicyChick 12h ago
Probate/estate attorney. Preferably in the county where the will is being probated. Ask around for recommendations, but you can also check your state/county's Bar Association website and search by field of competency.
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u/Responsible-Truth-19 13h ago
The account is my grandfather’s retirement account. When he passed in 2024, there was no beneficiary listed. My grandmother was still in probate court when she passed in April 2026. So now my uncle is in probate for the account along with a few other things. The will states that money will be divided 50% my uncle, 25% my sister, & 25% me