by Gary Foreman

If you think you’ve been left an inheritance, these steps can help you find out if the deceased did indeed leave you something, as well as help you go about receiving your inheritance.

Dear Gary.
My dad died recently. We weren’t very close. Years ago, before she passed, my mom said that he had something that he wanted me to inherit, but I have no idea what it might be. I don’t even know if he had a will. I’m the only living relative. Is there some way to find out if he left me something?
Tara

Sorry to hear about your Dad. Even if you weren’t close, it can still hurt to lose a parent.

Your first stop should be the courthouse in the county where your dad had his residence. If an executor has been assigned to his estate, they’ll have a record of it. They’ll also be able to tell you how to contact the executor.

If no one has been assigned, you can apply to the court to become the executor. Being the only living relative, it’s likely that they will honor your request. Be prepared to provide some proof of your relationship. Your birth certificate naming your Dad as “father” should suffice.

If you do become the executor, you’ll have access to your father’s financial records, but it will also mean that you’re responsible for closing out his affairs. That will include collecting all assets and paying appropriate debts, tax returns, and distribution of any inheritances.

Depending on your relationship, you could decide that the chance of locating a specific inheritance isn’t worth the work of managing the estate. In that case, an executor will be assigned. You’ll still receive any inheritance due to you, but the odds of finding a specific item decrease. You might know something personally that would help find the inheritance your mother mentioned that a non-related executor would not.

Hopefully, your dad kept his financial records organized. Ideally, he left a notebook listing his accounts, important assets, and papers. In many cases, that doesn’t happen, but you might find a desk or file cabinet where he kept statements and other financial paperwork.

If you don’t find papers gathered in one place, the job becomes much more complicated. Combing through financial records to find assets and debts isn’t easy or pretty.

You’ll start by collecting the mail looking for statements and bills. Even inactive accounts will generate a statement periodically, often quarterly.

Look for any record of a safe deposit box. You might find a bill for the rental or a key. Try contacting his bank if you think he had one but can’t find any evidence. Many people keep their safe deposit box where they do their banking.

Contact any of your dad’s former employers. Not only could they know of any pensions or retirement plans, but also they might be able to help you contact dad’s co-workers. It’s also possible that he had some employer-purchased life insurance.

Look for any other organizations that your dad might have frequented. Was he a member of any churches, lodges, or clubs? Speaking with his friends could provide leads to otherwise hidden assets.

You’ll also want to check for unclaimed property in any states where your father lived. States collect unclaimed deposits and accounts and hold them. (See How to Track Down Unclaimed Funds Owed You).

There’s no sure way to guarantee that you’ll find everything your father owned. At some point, you’ll need to decide that you’ve done your best and call off the hunt.

Tara’s situation is a good lesson for all of us. It’s essential to have someone lined up to handle your affairs after you die. That’s true even if you’re a young person. They don’t need to know all your financial matters. They just need to know that you’d like them to be your executor and where to find a listing of your accounts, safe deposit boxes, assets, and debts and your will.

Tara, I hope that you’re able to find the inheritance your mother mentioned. And, I also hope that you can discover some happy memories as well.

Related Articles

• What Happens to My Debts When I Die?
• End-of-Life Planning Everyone Needs to Do
• 13 Ways to Waste Sudden Wealth

Reviewed March 2022

About the Author

Gary Foreman is the former owner and editor of the After50Finances.com website and newsletters in 1996. He's the author of How to Conquer Debt No Matter How Much You Have and he's been featured in MSN Money, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business, The Nightly Business Report, US News Money, Credit.com and CreditCards.com.