Have done this series of more personal posts during the winter while staff is coordinating specific legal posts on some things you may not see - like a petition to partition - (there were 69 of those in Norfolk County - last year I've done a few of them).
There are more and more instances of people who are out of state heirs calling us to get involved with the estate of a relative in Massachusetts. Two that come to mind are Texas and Arizona (where we met here with the people, but only had to go to court in the Springfield twice for the lady from Arizona).
Last year's biggest case was unique. Like Howard Hughes....I never met the client. Totally over the phone, on email through her daughter. They were in California; the case was in Suffolk Probate Court. The trick was keeping it out of court, settled, and the real estate sold - so my client could get something. The Almighty smiled and things worked out.
The office has engaged in knockdown, drag-outs in court. Enough over 40 years to know how much you should go out of your way to AVOID them. Particularly in probate administration.
