Q: My aunt died with no will. I am her niece. She has a mobile home and car not worth more than 10 k. Can I sell them?
I am a niece only. There are no spouses, no children, no sisters, no brothers, I am the only niece and only family. She lived 40 miles from me however, she was sort of a recluse. Her mobile home isn't worth more than 5K and an old car. How do I take possession of items left in the mobile home, as in, pictures, personal papers etc. No one has claimed her body yet as I didn't know she died until this week from a family friend of hers If I claim her body, am I also the person that will have to pay her credit cards, etc? She was 77 and on SS who notifies SS office to not send a check again? Can I without probate sell her assets??
A:
If you are truly the sole and closest living relative, you may file a small estate affidavit with the probate court (under $75,000 if she did not own the property on which the trailer sits, under $100,000 if there is "real property" (real estate) involved. There are a number of websites (use the one specific to the county in which your aunt was residing at the time of her death) online that provide self-help in filing the necessary paperwork.
In most cases the funeral home will report the death to social security but if the body has not been claimed yet there is no funeral home involved at this point. You can call the Social Security Administration and report the death (information on ssa.gov).
I am sorry for your loss and hope resolving your aunt's estate is not too complicated. I hope that helps.
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