ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

My father had passed away in a number of years ago. Someone from the county in which he resided in contacted me in regards to a piece of property that was owed back taxes and was now getting ready to be auctioned off later this year unless we paid the back taxes and it would stay in the family trust. Problem is we had no idea there was a family trust or who the beneficiaries were. All surviving family members agreed to pay the back taxes on this property so we could sell it and split it equally but how do we find out where this trust is or if there are any other things associated with it? This deceased father btw was severely estranged from all children so there are no ways to go through and access documents he might have left behind. Is there a specific kind of lawyer I need to contact? how much would that run me? It might not even be worth it due to how little this property is worth. But the question remains, is there more to this trust? So where do I start?

ANSWER BY MARGARET CROSS-BELIVEAU:

You can start by looking at the deed which funded the trust. Sometimes there is a prepared by and return to notation in the margin. Usually, the person signs at the law firm which drafted the documents, so the notary would work at that law firm.

One way to determine assets owned by a decedent is to review tax returns.

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on LinkedIn

Legal Disclaimer: Please note that this answer does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on since each situation is fact specific, and it is impossible to evaluate a legal problem without a comprehensive consultation and review of all the facts and documents at issue. This answer does not create an attorney-client relationship. A lawyer experienced in the subject area and licensed to practice in the jurisdiction should be consulted for legal advice.

Beliveau Law Group: Massachusetts | Florida | New Hampshire

The estate administration attorneys at the Beliveau Law Group provide legal services for probate, estate administration, and trust administration.