My mom passed away the 28th of last month, and we are waiting on autopsy report for she died within 15 min of getting to the hosp, so we haven't gotten a death certificate yet, my question is I am mom's only child and she was married to a man who is not my dad, what are my rights as my mom's only child? We live in the state of Texas. Mom left her husband 7 weeks ago but never got a divorce and was living in an abusive situation for 20+ years, he has been awful to me and wouldn't let me help with mom's funeral and keeps repeating that he will burn my mom's things and my baby pictures. Mom never told me much about their bank accts but did tell me 6 weeks ago Sherry I have an annuity in the sum of 40,000 in mine and your name only and it's in a safe deposit box and I am going to give you the key but she never got to give it to me, now I know he has it and is probably hiding it somewhere, we are talking a fairly large estate, what should I do? Can I get the annuity from him, should I just come out and ask him for it? I read where annuities don't half to go to probate? Oh and there is no will, my step dad has told everyone there is no will, Thank you for your time and consideration