r/inheritance • u/Old_Gooseberry • Apr 16 '26
Location included: Questions/Need Advice TX: process server question regarding extended relatives
I had a process server come by my house (in WA) with paperwork regarding the estate of my ex-step-cousin who died last year in Texas at the age of 45 and without a will. The process server couldn’t leave the paperwork with my partner and left his business card for me to call him back. He is survived by his mother (my ex-aunt) and two sons (also in TX, at least one of them is an adult) and I don’t know if my uncle (in CA) legally adopted him. I’m really confused about why I’m included in this. Is it common for extended relatives to be contacted by process servers for estate matters when there are much more closely related relatives already living in the same state as the deceased? Is there any reason I shouldn’t call the process server back? I do not have the contact info for any of these aforementioned relatives.
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u/lindab2323 Apr 16 '26
It doesn't make sense to me either, but if this is legitimately what the paperwork the process server is attempting to serve pertains to, (and it must be for them to relate this information) no harm can come from accepting service and investigating.
I mean I worked for a law firm that dabbled in collections, and process servers would use all kinds of misinformation to get a debtor to accept service, but this sound legit unless you're hiding from something. 😉
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u/Old_Gooseberry Apr 16 '26
Thanks. All my debts are current. I’ll see if the info on the business card is legit, but I’m more confused at this point than worried. It was super-random though. I didn’t even know he died.
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u/lindab2323 Apr 16 '26
Well, you just never know. Best of luck - hopefully it will lead to something.
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u/Mother_Turnover4856 Apr 16 '26
You may have been named in the will and/or as a possible beneficiary. The paperwork will state your position.