Sometimes if a person dies, the assets they have are not clear. This usually is because the deceased person did not organize financial documents well, but other times it is because the person intentionally kept finances private. When a parent dies, it is especially important to check into what assets are available, as you may be entitled to those assets as a direct heir.
Clues about your father's assets may be hidden online.
Step 1
Look through your father's belongings. Check for bank account statements, property deeds, life insurance policies, your father's will and similar documents. If you're fortunate, your father will have kept these documents neatly in a filing cabinet or desk drawer. However, you may need to look through any stacks of papers that have been left and open any mail.
Step 2
Go to the bank with which your father did business. Explain that your father has passed away and, if necessary, provide the bank with a copy of the death certificate. (Some banks will not release financial information unless you can show the account holder is deceased. Others require that only the executor of the state present the death certificate.) Inquire as to whether your father had a safety deposit box at the bank. Even if he kept all his documents at home, other valuables such as jewelry may be in the deposit box.
Step 3
Visit your local probate court clerk's office. Have the clerk do a search for all records relating to your father's assets. These documents usually are a matter of public record, although there may be fees for the services the clerk provides.
Step 4
Contact the insurance companies with whom your father held policies. Find out the amount of the policies and the names of all beneficiaries. Again, you'll probably need to provide a death certificate. Do not assume that policies aside from life insurance should be ignored as assets. Many policies give the option of setting up cash value accounts, which means that some of the premiums paid are set aside for the policy holder.
Step 5
Contact your father's last employer. Speak with an HR representative to determine what retirement benefits, if any, your father had.
Step 6
Contact federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration and Secretary of State that might have provided income to your father or been involved in business registrations. These agencies can tell you the monthly payment amount your father received and tell you the bank or address to which those funds were sent. Your state's unclaimed property office also may list funds associated with your father's estate.
Since your father had died without leaving any WILL, his property will go in equal share amongst his Class-I heirs viz., his widow (i.e. your mother), his children and also his mother (in case she is alive).
First, one has to obtain legal heir certificate from the Tehasildar by submitting a detailed application indicating all the Class-I heirs left behind by the deceased, their age, their relationship with the deceased (i.e. wife, son, daughter, mother etc.). The said Application should be accompanied by the Death Certificate.
After making enquiries, the Tehasildar will issue the legal heir certificate.
On the basis of the said legal heir certificate, the legal heirs have to approach the Authorities for mutation of the property in their name.
However, you want that the property should be registered in your mother's name. For this, all the other legal heirs have to execute a Registered Relinquishment Deed relinquishing their respective shares in the property in favour of your mother. The Relinquishment Deed will involve very small stamp duty and registration fee.
Once such a Relinquishment Deed is registered, then your mother can approach the authorities along with the legal heir certificate and the Relinquishment Deed for getting the property mutated in her name.
