#Inheritance #EstatePlanning #Probate #FamilyLegacy
๐ Were you recently informed about a potential inheritance and unsure about what to do next? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Whether you received a call from a lawyer or a family member, dealing with an inheritance can be both exciting and overwhelming. Let’s break down what steps you should take to navigate this process smoothly.
Verify the Information
1. **Confirm the Source:** Make sure that the call you received is legitimate and not a scam.
2. **Ask for Documentation:** Request official documents to validate the inheritance details.
3. **Consult with Professionals:** Consider speaking with an estate planning attorney or financial advisor for guidance.
Understand the Inheritance Process
1. **Probate Process:** Familiarize yourself with the probate process if the inheritance involves a will.
2. **Tax Implications:** Be aware of any tax obligations associated with the inheritance.
3. **Distribution of Assets:** Learn how assets will be distributed and who the beneficiaries are.
Organize Personal Finances
1. **Create a Checklist:** Stay organized by creating a checklist of tasks related to the inheritance.
2. **Review Existing Assets:** Take stock of your current financial situation to better evaluate the new inheritance.
Protect Your Inheritance
1. **Secure Assets:** Safeguard any physical or digital assets received through the inheritance.
2. **Update Beneficiary Information:** Ensure that your beneficiary information is up to date to avoid any complications.
Remember, receiving an inheritance is a significant event that requires careful consideration. By following these steps and seeking professional advice when needed, you can effectively manage your inheritance and make informed decisions for your future. Congratulations on this new chapter in your life! ๐
> So how do I verify this before I send my personal info?
Talk to the family of the family member who died and allegedly left you money.
Or check unclaimed.org
Why would you *family* not let you know you had money but random guy named Larry just happens to know that?
Larry is either an outright scammer or is simply searching the states unclaimed funds database, finding people on it, and charging them for something they can do themselves for free – which is go to that website, verify themselves to the state, and claim funds that belong to them.
Stop talking to Larry. Go here to search for unclaimed property in California: https://www.sco.ca.gov/search_upd.html If you have some money there available to claim, great, claim it. If not, contact your family and ask them about this inheritance. Whoever was the executor of this relative’s estate should be able to answer any questions you have.
That sounds sketchy as hell. NAL but I definitely would heed the other comments advice. If you have family in the area still, why would a PI be reaching out to you? Also 30% sounds outrageous even if that were true.
Scam putz A private eye would not be handling this. You would be contacted by a probate lawyer / executer . A percentage would never apply, and is not even legal
This whole thing seems incredibly fishy.
Presumably, the family member who died left an estate. Presumably the estate has an executor. Why did that executor not contact you if you were named in the will? There should be an actual person in charge of distributing money from the estate. It should probably be a family member. Why should a random PI even be involved?
Why do they need to verify your identity? After all, they’re calling YOU. Typically its the CALLER who has to verify their identity. They should already know who they are if they have your phone number.
Demanding 30% of your inheritance simply for filing a claim seems bogus on multiple levels. For one, no claim should be necessary. The executor should contact you, inform you, and ask where to send the money. You shouldn’t even need to make a “claim”. For another, even if you do need to make a claim… 30% of the total is an outrageous fee.
This reeks of being some kind of scam.
Contact whoever is closest to the deceased family member, and ask to be put in touch with the executor of their estate. Ask that person for a copy of the will because you’ve been told you’re in it.
And do a search on the California website for unclaimed property. I agree with ExistingMeaning2650… this sounds like if you got an inheritance, it got put into unclaimed property, and this “investigator” is trying to scam you by asking you to pay 30% for doing an unclaimed property claim that you can do yourself for free.
Edit: others have given great advice in this thread. You are wise to be wary.
NAL.
Everything may check out โฆ but this may be a ruthless attempt to potentially gain 30% of your inheritance.
Have to wonder if other beneficiaries are involved with this PI.
Couple thoughts :
1) ask this PI for the probate attorney contact information – the attorney handling the estate
2) try and locate family members
3) search for probate records for legal contacts
4) ask the PI for copy of death certificate – note if you can find the funeral home that prepared your relative – theyโll have the death certificates and you can find out through them who is handling estate .
This assumes there was a funeral home involved
Whatever you do – donโt provide information if youโre not gaining some yourself.
Is he based out of Arizona?
You are legally entitled to 100% of anything left to you in a will. Thanks for the heads up, Larry, now shove off. Think about the business model…it’s got to be the dumbest idea possible. Every potential customer can just sidestep you and claim the inheritance. That alone screams scam.
Also, YOU do not need a lawyer to claim an inheritance. The executor of the estate handles everything legal and financial and is already being paid. If this wasn’t a scam, it’s just adding an unneccessary layer in between and slowing things down. The only reason you would ever bring in a 3rd party on your own is if you wanted help with tax planning, etc.
Look up this relative at [California’s unclaimed property website.](https://www.sco.ca.gov/search_upd.html) Then you can go through the process of receiving this inheritance without the exorbitant 30% fee. They might be scamming you, but they also might very well be doing what they’re saying they’re doing. But either way, if they can get you your inheritance, so can you. He wants you to move quickly so that you don’t find out that you can just do this on your own.
People being pushy is like the #1 sign itโs a scam.
Former claims examiner here. If you had a call like this from the insurance company, it would be legit. and an insurance company in fact hire a private investigator. But I doubt it because they have plenty of databases to find people in the United States.
For a PI to contact you and then say that they are going to take a percentage of the funds, totally totally totally scam.
If itโs legit. They will never take 30%
Proof of how effective scams are rests in the fact that you even considered this might be legit. Actually, you completely fell for it.
They are probably posing as this office call the actual office and find out if they really called you
Call the company he works for and verify him. Or maybe try to work with whoever is holding the inheritance to avoid paying the 30%. If it is legit he probably wants you to do it with him before figuring it out on your own so he can collect the 30%
A few years ago my spouse got a letter from a company offering to help them claim a share of a deceased relative’s estate, in exchange for 20% of what was received. The company looked legit, but my spouse didn’t follow up immediately. A few months later they heard from a lawyer handling the estate, and was able to get their share without paying a cut to an intermediary.
While the solicitation was real, and it felt like “what have I got to lose”, it turned out there would have been a few thousand to lose.
Definitely a scam. Why would they take money that is legally yours. sCAM. Easy
Rather than paying 30% it would be cheaper to pay a probate attorney in that area.
You donโt have to work through Larry to get what is legally your asset. I would tell Larry, thanks but no thanks. All you have to do is contact the state and the probate court. If you go to that state probate court, look for your relative, and you will find the legal representative or the executioner of the estate. They are legally required to give you your inheritance and you donโt need Larry at all.