How can I find out if my mother was legally adopted?
Recently my grandfather on my mother's side passed away and he left everything to me, his only living relative. My mother passed away 10 years ago. Here's the question, someone is contesting the will saying that I'm not his legal relative because my mother was not his biological daughter. It's my understanding that he adopted her when he married my grandmother... but I have no proof.
How can I get a copy of the adoption papers from the early 1940s? Would they exist somewhere? I believe that this would involve the state of NY if that matters. Probably around 1941 or sometime soon after.
Thanks for your help.