Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

Maybe. If your father left his entire estate to his wife and she had a will leaving it to her heirs, then probably not. If there was no will by either your father or your step-mother then you and your brother may be allowed to inherit through what is called "intestate succession" (which are rules on how to distribute property when womeone dies without a will). To sort this out will require reviewing how assets were held and, of course, determining whether any will or trust was set up. Real property is easiest to check, because deeds are recorded. Bank accounts and other assets may be harder to track down. I recommend that you sist down with a lawyer to go through this in more detail.