My mom passed away with no will, the most expansive things she owned were a large flat screen TV, musical keyboard, computer, tablet, digital camera and kitchen appliances. I have two younger sisters, they’ve taken the kitchen appliances, one has taken the TV and keyboard, the other wants the camera and tablet and also borrowed $800 from our mom that she never paid back. Since my computer barely works I said I’d like the computer. The sister who has the TV insists that she get’s the computer because our mom traded her old computer to someone to cover part of the cost for a newer one and my sister paid the difference as a birthday gift to our mom.
We’re all full time college students and our mom left behind a 15x15 foot shed filled to the rafters of stuff that we have to go through. My sisters have said they don’t want anything other than the electronics, every time I ask them to help go through the stuff they say they’re too busy, we take the same number of classes, they just spend more time socializing. I’m stuck trying to sort through the stuff and find room for it in my apartment without any help from them.
Do I have any right to say that, since they’re taking the other electronics and refuse to help go through any of our mom’s stuff, that I’m keeping the computer?
Are there any legal guidelines for situations like this? I’ve looked at Ohio laws and can’t find anything about what happens when there’s a disagreement about how things should be split up.
Answers & Comments
As a practical matter, is there anyone that you mom knew (her best friend) who all the sisters can agree on as arbitrator.
Can the sisters agree to split try to split the trivial stuff (TV's and computers are trivial) among themselves, and if they can't come to agreement, would they all agree to abide by mom's best friend's decision?
It was wrong for them to just take stuff, without all of you agreeing to who gets what.
Since they did do that, then take what you want, before they grab it.
Find room in your apartment? You can't sort things, and have things given away, donated, or tossed, as you go?
I don't know if you can find Legal aide, to ask about the legality, but it probably would involve going to court, which is very costly and time consuming.
BTW, about all that stuff in the shed, what you WANT of it, including sentimental value, or things you can use or enjoy. Do save those things, but find ways to give away, or sell, or toss as quickly as possible of everything you don't want.
But, since they TOOK things, then you can TAKE the computer.
Bringing the law in would just make it worse.
Legally, someone needs to be legally declared executor of the estate, and would be responsible to distribute the assets according to intestate law in that state. Any creditor are in line BEFORE any heirs. If the heirs disagree on disposition of any specific assets, the law would generally require SELLING the assets, and splitting the proceeds.
Her estate must be probated. None of you have any right to take stuff yet.