question about probate

[unknownUser]

Hi, I have a question. My mother passed away in 2005, she apparently had no will she was only 54. She owned her house out right in her name only. After she had owned that house for 10 years she married her husband and was only married to him for 2 years before she died. My sister and I have been in litigation with this man (her husband) since our mothers death. He instantly wanted us to sign over everything to him, and then of course wanted to sell the house for the money. My sister and I did not agree to that and the estate went to an state appointed estate attorney. Who in turn told us that my mothers estate would be split 50% to him plus $15,000. then my sister and I could split the remainder in half. ok we realize this is the law in the state. It is now 2009. The house has been on the market in Maryland.. My sister and I live in Florida. We ask for updates from the realtor and have to BEG for updates. The attorney never sends us any paperwork to update with the register of wills. we constantly receive delinquent notices from them and tell us we have 10 days to respond. Then WE have to get ahold of the attorney to get the paper work started. My sister and I both know that our mothers husband wants us to "forget" about this or let the time lapse, but we are not. We also recently found out he has NOT paid for her funeral, but Our aunt has, still waiting to get paid back. We also have just recently found out that all the jewlery and items that my mother had from my Grandmother that passed away, he did not give to my sister or I..and he did not give to our aunt. ( My sister and I were under the assumption our aunt had gotten all of these peices because they did belong to her mother.) He has either sneakily sold or given away. These were very expensive peices, and really just wondering if he had the right to do so?.
So My question is... Is there anything My sister and I can do? Can we demand information be given to us? WE also feel that the house might be getting offers on it, but he is declining them because they are not the full amount being asked, and my sister and I have no knowledge. Other condos in the same unit have sold, and ours seems to hardly get any lookers? We have asked for pictures of the condo and we get very limited bad looking shots. Is it in our legal right to have someone take a look at the condo to make sure it is still in selling condition? Can we make sure he doesnt have renters in there? And he lives there rent free, and has for the last 4 years...when it is actually half my sisters and mine. Is this legal? He paid nothing for this home, Our mother purchased it with the sale of my grandparents home after they passed away, long before she met this man. Also what about this attorney for the estate just letting us get delinquent notices for the estate and us having to chase him down? Should we get an attorney? Help please!

 

[NY_Shark]

This is why intestacy sucks. Here's the thing. Without a will, the spouse will almost always be granted executor rights. The executor in this case is fully within his rights to sell everything your mother owned. The house, the jewelry...everything. What to do with the money from these sales is another question. The spouse gets a lot. In NY, the spouse receives 50,000 of the estate and then 50% of anything left over. So if MD has a similar law, and I'm sure they do, then you wouldn't be entitled to anything if the estate is less than 50,000 after all debts and taxes are paid off. If it were a 100,000 estate, you and your sister would be looking at receiving about 12 thousand bucks each, and so on.