My father died recently without a will. What rights do surviving three biological children have? Mother is suddenly distrusting and secretive?

If there is a surviving spouse and no will, chances are you get nothing and the mother gets it all. The surviving spouse is edit***USUALLY***/edit first in line for everything if nothing is in writing.

Were your parents married when your father passed?

That's incorrect. Do your home work. My brothers and I are in a similar situation and we are sueing our dad to get what is rightfully ours. Without a will in the state of Louisiana the spouse gets 50% of what was in the bank and 50% of the house. This excludes annuities and insurance policies, but the rest belongs to the biological children. What's more is that he recently married and the new wife is trying to get us to sign our rights to the house over to them so they can "Work on the house for us." No thank you. Don't fall for the okedoke. It's called secession. This is where you voluntarily give your share of the house and any half of any money BACK to your surviving parent. GET A LAWYER!

The original post is from May 7, 2009