Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in Pennsylvania

Hi

My name is Daria. Our relative came to USA in 1913. In 1953 he died in Cheswick near Pittsburg PA. I found his death certificate. He never was married. We think that he may left some property or money. Please us to find an attorny who can help us to find it


Asked on 6/27/16, 11:18 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

John Davidson Law Office of John A. Davidson

The cheap solution is ;look at the unclaimed property list maintained by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Here's the website http://www.patreasury.gov/claim/

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Answered on 6/27/16, 12:31 pm

You do not need an attorney. Try www.unclaimed.org. It will link you to the treasury departments for all the states in which your relative lived in prior to his death. You can also try www.missingmoney.com.

However, after 50+ years, why exactly do you have reason to believe that your relative left money or property behind? There are deeds to land. You would check the recorder of deeds' office in the county in which the land is located. It will tell you if any land is owned and how it was owned. If the relative was not married and had no children, then something would have happened to the land because taxes would not have been paid and the land would have sold at tax sale. There would not be any monies left from that if that is what happened because any monies would have gone for taxes and any other liens. I find it strange that no relatives also came forward after this much time but there could have been money from an insurance policy or bank account. If so you can check at either of the sites I listed. You also might want to check at the Allegheny County Orphan's Court to see if any kind of estate was ever opened for your relative. If so, then there should be an inventory and accounting on file to show what your relative owned and how any asssets were distributed.

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Answered on 6/27/16, 6:20 pm


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