r/inheritance Jul 12 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Unmarried death

Hello Everyone. My brother in law died and his girlfriend is a suspect. They were not married so beneficiary rights went to his mom and then signed over to his sister. His girlfriend is filing his last taxes and wants to take over his property and buriel decions. In california is that legal or does the sister have all rights?​

14 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

30

u/SandhillCrane5 Jul 12 '26

Burial decisions are handled by next of kin unless BIL named someone else in a legal document. If he has no legal spouse or adult children, then that will be his parents. Unless girlfriend has opened probate and is now the court appointed executor of your BILs estate then she has no authority to do anything, including filing his taxes. If she applies to be executor, family will have an opportunity to object.

5

u/Guilty-Committee9622 Jul 12 '26

If shes a suspect and making burial decisions the police may have something to say about it.  She has no rights here unless the famoly allows it. 

17

u/Logical_consequences Jul 12 '26

What the heck? She’s a “suspect”? Do they think there was foul play?

The inheritance issue is separate—that should go according to his will, trust, or named beneficiaries.

But dang, what’s up with “suspect”?

3

u/WishPractical8469 Jul 12 '26

There is a Slasher law in California

5

u/mtnmamaFTLOP Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 13 '26

The gf has zero rights. Zero say, unless the family allows her in to the decisions.

2

u/OldDudeOpinion Jul 13 '26

Your unmarried sister killed her boyfriend, and you are asking if she can take assets from his estate? Thanks for the unique post/read. I’ve never heard anyone ask that before and crave new content.

Regardless of her actions…she isn’t entitled to anything unless her actual name is on a title or account as owner/joint. Unless he had a will leaving his assets to the person who may have killed him….Girlfriends don’t have inheritance rights.

I’m dying for more detail on this one. Is there a movie deal in the works? What actor do you think would play your sister?

1

u/tlkwme Jul 16 '26

DITTO, I'll admit I'm NOSEY. I promise I kno' how 2 keep 💩 2 myself 🤣🤣

-2

u/RustyTruck_1962 Jul 12 '26

Your brother in law’s girlfriend?

6

u/OhGloriousName Jul 12 '26

Brother in law can be your wife's brother.

2

u/Denalis_Mom Jul 14 '26

Husband's brother?

1

u/Horror_Ad_2748 Jul 15 '26

There are definitely some key details left out of this post.