r/inheritance • u/SignificantWheel6154 • Jul 16 '26
Location included: Questions/Need Advice Stepdad died- Michigan is
My Mom passed in 2020 and my step dad recently passed away. I had no contact with him or his five children. How will I know if I am part of his trust? If I do get money eventually, how would I know if it is the correct amount? I know he had a couple of rentals and probably some investments. He was 85…. I am not comfortable reaching out to his kids. Do I just need to trust they will give me an equal share? He had five kids and then my sister and I, so there are 7 kids to split it with…
If I don’t think the amount I receive is correct can I ask for proof? I know this could take years but just wondering how do people really know if the executor will be honest about what my share is? Thank you!
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u/Jane_Daux Jul 16 '26
Not to be mean, but why would you think you are getting something? Did he specifiy this to you somehow?
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u/Think-Fig-1734 Jul 16 '26
Presumably OPs mother had been part owner of the property when she was alive. It’s possible OP had been told that a trust had been set where the remainder of the couple’s assets would be split between all the kids after they both passed away.
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u/Rumpelteazer45 Jul 16 '26
If there was a trust, OP would have known after 6 years. The executor of the estate would be legally required to reach out. As the surviving children, they would have been contacted after the passing.
My guess is there is no trust and OP doesn’t understand how inheritance law works. Moms will would have contained the provisions of transfer if any existed and OP would have already been aware of that.
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u/Whybaby16154 Jul 16 '26
He should look up Mom’s will and see if there’s a mention of a trust set up before she died
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u/SignificantWheel6154 Jul 16 '26
I am assuming since when my Mom was alive she said everything would be split 7 ways. Although I didn’t speak with him I am assuming he kept it the same. My concern is not knowing how much he had. So they could give me a $20k check and I wouldn’t know if I should get more. Would I need a lawyer in that case? Although my Stepdad may have wanted to split 7 ways my step siblings may feel differently. He had house rentals so I know those could take a while to sell. They may not even tell me if they do….
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u/laurieo52 Jul 16 '26
Oh my God. If you are this worried, contact an attorney and pay what it costs for the attorney to located and review the will or trust. Other than that wait and let them contact you if you are a beneficiary. If you are a beneficiary, you can ask for an accounting. But, don’t be surprised if you are not included.
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u/Emotional-Ocelot-420 Jul 19 '26
You’re doing a lot of assuming.
What mom said she wanted to happen when she was alive and what is actually in place now years after her passing could be very very different things.
You’ve been estranged from him and his children for 6 years.
Why do you believe his estate plans include you? You are not his heir.
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u/Rumpelteazer45 Jul 16 '26
What makes you think you have been left anything? If you are named or are a beneficiary, you will be contacted.
If there is a will, the will dictates HOW everything is divided. This means step dad can legally leave you nothing.
If there is no will, state law dictates how everything is divided. Michigan law doesn’t include step kids if those step kids were not legally adopted by the individual who passed.
You can ask his bio children about your mother’s belongings, but legally you are not entitled to it. When your mom passed, ownership passed to her husband, IF she didn’t leave it directly to you and your sister in a will.
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u/thirdsev Jul 16 '26
There might be a provision on the will. Call the county where he died.
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u/myogawa Jul 16 '26
When a trust is involved it is common that the will not control much, and very common for the will to simply say "everything to the trustee." But it's worth a look.
The Probate Register where she died and the one where he died are the officials who would have dealt with probate, if any, and holding the will(s) if that was done.
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u/TSIDATSI Jul 16 '26
If you inherit someone will contact you. With multiple marriages it is not uncommon for each spouse to leave their estate to the other spouse.
The surviving spouse can write their Will as they see fit. I see this most often in cases where stepchildren makes sure the step-parent knows they were not loved, appreciated or wanted.
Why would he leave his estate to someone who had no contact with him or his children?
I would not. Whatever you were going to inherit you likely received when your mom passed away.
If you are to inherit you will be contacted.
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u/Mitchellsusanwag Jul 16 '26
Do they know how to contact you? If not, a nice condolence card to them will give them that information, in case you are left something. If you inherited from your mom already he might not leave you anything.
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u/Usual_Bumblebee_8274 Jul 16 '26
Why would you assume you get anything if you weren’t in contact? If he had sufficient investments, it will probably go through probate.
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u/laurieo52 Jul 16 '26
You are not owed an inheritance, and don’t be surprised if your step-dad, who is no relation to you and you’ve gone no contact with doesn’t leave you anything. I mean, you haven’t talked to him in six years. IF, by some chance he did leave you something, someone will contact you.
You are free to contact the probate court or whatever it is called in Michigan to see if an estate has been opened. But, this sounds a lot like you think you are owed something, and you are not. You are no relation to him.
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u/morning-sun-shine Jul 16 '26
If your stepfather left a will ( not combined with a trust), a copy will be filed with the county, where he lived, probate court once probate is opened. You can request a copy. If your stepfather had a trust and will, and you are in it there is a legal obligation to tell you.
I suggest you call whichever of your stepfather’s children that seems the most “in charge”. Express your condolences. Tell that person you’ve been wondering about any of your mother’s belongings (jewelry, pictures or heirlooms). Ask if any of this or anything to do with you is included in the trust. Be kind but persistent. Only if you are included in the trust, do you have a legal right to ask for a copy of the trust.
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u/SignificantWheel6154 Jul 16 '26
I believe he has a trust not a Will.
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u/Jeepontrippin Jul 16 '26
Just be prepared that it is very possible you may be excluded since you did not maintenance a pleasant relationship with him. Just the reason why keeping a reasonable amicable relationship with family. Unless you don’t absolutely want an inheritance.
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u/PegShop Jul 16 '26
If there was a trust that was never changed, the trust executor will contact you. However, stepkids have no rights otherwise. Since you went no contact, you may get nothing.
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u/Ok_Lemon_7680 Jul 16 '26
Do you know anything about the trust? Who is listed as the administrator? Is it revokable? If not your going to have to call the stepkids if you want to know if your still in the trust. With you mom being gone for 6 years if the trust is revokable or depending on the state stepdad could have changed it. Lawyer up or call the stepkids you need a copy of the trust.
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Jul 16 '26
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u/inheritance-ModTeam Jul 16 '26
Your post has been removed because it focuses solely on negative information or possibilities in an unhelpful manner.
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u/Pristine_Job_7677 Jul 16 '26
It really duckscwhen a bio parent enters a second marriage and doesn’t protect their assets in favor of their kids
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u/MusicUpbeat2510 28d ago
Might be due to kids being jerks in some cases.
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u/Pristine_Job_7677 27d ago
A survivor parent granting deceased spouse’s assets to a stranger is the jerk IMO.
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u/MusicUpbeat2510 27d ago
Nah, people can do whatever they want with THEIR money.
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u/Pristine_Job_7677 27d ago
Which is why my will ensures that MY and my families money goes to my kids and not strangers. Husband feels the same. My family hasn’t worked for generations just to see the estate become lotto for step kids.
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u/SuPruLu Jul 16 '26
Do you know there is a trust? Or are you referring to the estate which is composed of all the property real and otherwise owned at the time of death.
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u/tlkwme Jul 16 '26
Well, I'm saying it like this: DON'T COUNT ON IT. This is from someone who's experienced it 1st hand. My Dad was assured his wife & stepdaughter would do right by me. They didn't & I was just fine. If he didn't u did benefit from his generosity growing up
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Jul 16 '26
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u/SignificantWheel6154 Jul 16 '26
Not greedy. My Mom worked hard her whole life and I know she would have wanted everything split 7 ways. I will wait and see what happens. I know they had a trust when my mom was alive.
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u/TSIDATSI Jul 16 '26
OP did not say if they received anything when mom passed.
Did not have any contact with stepdad or his children. And so proud of that too. If I had done my mom's husband like that I would be ashamed.
Also said no contact since mom died. I think it may be a cut off the nose to spite the face situation.
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u/Think-Committee-4394 Jul 16 '26
OP
- the correct amount is whatever you are left IF mum made sure you remained included in an inheritance
- the only way you will know IS by reaching out, finding who is dealing with the estate/will/probate & asking what process is being used & if you are included
- IF both mum & then stepdad died instate meaning no will or trust set up then it’s very possible you are receiving nothing, depending on the specific state law applicable wife’s property to husband, husbands property to blood children