Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Florida

I am a 58 year old female. I have a brother that is 59. My mother was married at 16, had my brother at 17, and me at 18, and divorced at 18. I met my biological father one time when I was very young. He ended up being a dead beat dad and was never a part of our lives. My mother remarried and me and my brother were legally adopted when I was 10 years old. Unfortunately, my step father died in a car accident when I was 15. As I got older, much older, I set out to find my biological father. I found I had 3 half siblings (sisters). I started conversation with my half sister that were abruptly stopped saying they did not feel "their" father should have to deal with me or my brother. My mother was mentally and physically abused during their brief marriage so out of respect for their wishes, I backed away, regrettably. The last message I recd from one of my half sisters is that my biological father had died. This was about 3 years ago. I was angered that I let them influence me and lost my chance to speak to him to find out his side of the story. Which leads to my question. Do me and my brother have any rights to his assets. I know he owned property and had a business. My mother has suffered financial stress all her life, she raised me and my brother with no help from my biological father. I wanted to know if it was worth pursuing his estate. The sisters have nothing to do with me and are quite nasty. I regret not taking my chance to speak to him before he died. His wife preceded him in death so everything was left to his 2nd family, the 3 sisters. I live in florida, my biological father and family live in Wisconsin. Is this worth pursuing?


Asked on 2/10/17, 9:46 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Lucreita Becude Lucreita D. Becude, P.A.

If your biological father died without a will and his wife predeceased him, then all his assets would go to his surviving children. Yes you have an interest in his assets. You need to contact a probate attorney asap as once the assets are gone it is hard to recoup the loss if you can find it.

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Answered on 2/11/17, 9:16 am


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