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READER FEEDBACK
Harry Gross: 'Bad blood' could be bad news for kin
Dear Harry: I am the son of a man who recently died after two successive marriages. He had adopted two daughters that his current wife had before her marriage to him. My stepmom, one of my sisters, and I want to sell his house and divide up the money, but there is bad blood between one of my sisters and the family, and she won't even discuss his estate with us. This has been going on for about three months. How can we get the house sold with the least possible cost?
What Harry says: There is one very important thing missing. Was the house owned jointly by your father and stepmother? If that is the case, she has full title to it now and the children get nothing. She can do what she pleases with the property. If the house was owned solely by your father, there is a problem since there is apparently no will. You (or his widow) should go to the office of the Register of Wills, and attempt to be appointed as administrator of the estate. At that point, we have to hope that your estranged sister will not cause a problem. If she objects to the appointment, you may need a lawyer to resolve the issue in court. Once an administrator is appointed, the administrator can sell the house and divide the proceeds as provided under the Intestate Law. The adopted daughters will share in the estate as if they were natural daughters. His widow will get $30,000 plus half the remainder. The remainder will be split equally among you and your sisters.
Write Harry Gross c/o the Daily News, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. Harry urges all his readers to give blood - contact the American Red Cross at 800-GIVE LIFE.
