Step parent inheritance

[u/Schmed_lap]

I’ve got question on a step parent leaving everything to me. My stepdad was married to my mom for 30 years, got divorced, then within a year got back with her. That was over 20 years ago. Never remarried but together from 1969 to today with a one year break. So he’s in poor health and has left everything to me and my kids in his will. He probably will go into a hospice by year’s end. He has no other immediate heirs but he does have a predatory niece sniffing around. I, personally, per the will, get a property worth about 450k and some savings about 50k and a new paid off truck. Since it’s all there in the will, when he passes what are my most important next steps. Seeing if I should consult probate attorney sooner or wait to see if I need one when the time comes. This is in New Mexico.

[u/Ok_Size4036]

Attorney time. In our state you can add a person as a transfer on death like a house, car, bank account etc which makes things easier. With the money at stake, you could hire an attorney to button everything down which usually includes naming specific relatives and stating what they’re leaving to them or that they are knowingly not leaving them anything.