Q: I think I might have been cheated out of an inheritance. How do I find out?

A: I am sorry for your loss and please accept my condolences for you and your family.

Generally, a family deal or promise or similar never works out, it has to be in the estate plan (Will/Trust/Pay on Death Designation or similar).

If there was a Will and probate with your Dad's estate, you can check with the clerk of the court in the county where your dad lived/had his homestead and get all the documents, including the Will for review to see what was done.

With respect to your stepmom, the same applies, you can check with clerk of the court and copies of any documents related to the probate as well as a copy of her Will.

Whether you were entitled to get anything or how matters played out will be available via the court documents discussed above, if you are unable to do it on your own (which you should), you may want to speak with a probate attorney, and they can help you out further with respect to securing the documents and reviewing them but a cost will be involved to hire an attorney.

The first probate of your dad will be of particular important, where did the assets go upon his passing and who was entitled to what will be vital to determine, the court documents related to the probate will tell you this and what the outcome was, if you were never contacted, you were either not included in the estate or there may be a reason to be concerned and you may want to consider further investigation as recommended above or similar to find out for sure.