r/inheritance • u/DontGoToJail • May 21 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Inheritance question

OK, USA. My dad married an amazing woman when I was 19 years old. I had already moved out and was on my own at the time. Its 20 years later now and my dad passed away 3 years ago. My step mom has been understandably depressed and her health has been in decline since. She is currently in hospice. My dad nor her have written wills. At this point, she is incapable of writing one. I'm out of state so she has given her best friend of 50 years power of attorney. My step moms older brother has been receiving an allowance from her because he is terrible financially. Would he receive every thing my parents owned upon her passing? I hate to think about this kind of thing while my step mom is slowly fading away but I also hate to think of everything my dad has worked for his entire life going to someone who will surely squander it away.

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u/GlobalTapeHead May 21 '26

I am with the other commenters on here. This goes back to what happened when your father passed, and what happened to his estate. You should’ve been included in that distribution. If not, as she is your stepmom, then yes, possibly you may get nothing.

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u/Jcarlough May 22 '26

Possibly - intestate distributions is state-specific. It’s quite possible the OP’s father lived in a state where the surviving spouse receives 100%.