Q: Question about probate when I can't find my Mom's will.
My mom died a year ago. Previously, she made me an executor on her will and told me where it was but when she was killed we never could locate it and her financial advisor didn't have a copy. We were able to resolve all her accounts and policies without probate (we believed). Yesterday, we received a letter in the mail that she has an existing credit union account and they've requested the probate documents to close it out. We are pretty sure the money in the account isn't enough to pay to go through probate but is there a way to determine this? Also, is there a process to determine if there is anything else outstanding to resolve? Finally, we live in Colorado but she lived in Ohio. Do we need to work with a lawyer in Ohio? Thank you in advance. My mom was murdered and we are just recently coming out of the fog to work through these outstanding pieces. You all are doing a great service for the rest of us.
A: Yes, you should contact a local Ohio probate attorney in the county where she lived to assist you. You can use the Find a Lawyer tab. Depending on the amount involved, if it doesn't go through probate, the credit union will eventually send it to Ohio Unclaimed Funds. You could then claim it there without probate. Ask the credit union how long before they do that, then check the Ohio Unclaimed Funds web site.
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