Im 17 years old and my dad just died March 2007... My mom and my dad were never married he was married to his wife when I was conceived and he asked my mom not to put his name on the birth certificate so she didn't... so up until I was 15 he paid my mom $500 a month for child support in cash so his wife wouldn't find out... when I was 14 he told his wife about me and when I was 15 I moved in with them for 7 months so his wife and all of his family know I'm his child now even his lawyer but its not legal... there was never any blood test and I don't have his last name either... So now I talk to his wife and I'm not getting social security and I asked her if I was in his will and she wouldn't answer me.. So how would I find out if I'm in his will and get inheritance? Or if I'm not how would I go about taking it to court so that it could be proven I'm his child and I get my inheritance money that I should get?

Ok, at 17 your bio mother may have to file for you in most states.

Most likely everything was just left to his wife, if so, there is nothing for you to get, if the case goes to probate, the will will be filed with the probate court where he lived before he died.

Your local attorneys should know if it is possible to file a claim against his estate.

Hello m:

I would hire a lawyer.

excon

Do you have any reason to believe he remembered you in his will? If so, you will need an attorney to force the wife to produce the will, if she did not probate it.

If you are not mentioned, you can contest the will, but unless he was very wealthly, that would probably cost more that its worth.

If your father dies without a will (knows as dying "intestate"), then depending on the state he lived in you could have a right to part of his estate. I agree with the previous postings that you should contact a lawyer and ask how to proceed. Also, for social security you will need to make a claim with the SS office - see:

Information You'll Need When You Apply for Mother's or Father's Benefits