Expert: Jason Barnette, Esq. - 10/20/2009

Question
Jason,
  Thank you for taking the time for this. I, too, am an All Expert volunteer in Antique Automotive Parts. To the root of this matter..
  My Mother passed away last November. NO will can be found. The heirs are myself and my sister. We have, through our attorney, been appointed "Co-Personal Representatives" to the Estate. I will not lie to you, I went in the house and took Mom's computer. It has a program on it I wanted. My sister has gone in the house and taken all kinds of things. Some were photos of my Mother and Daughter that my daughter wanted. My sister deny taking anything like that. We each have a key to the house and no one else so if I didn't take them, it only leaves one person.
  She is being a real horses patootie in this mess. She is being so spiteful and vengeful, I'm beginning to become upset with her.
  Here is my question... She also took my Mother's car. I want to purchase it from the Estate and the attorney that my sister hired explained to me how the State of Missouri could do it with the proper paperwork. I have all the proper paperwork. I just need my sister to sign the Title to the car, which I have. I cannot get her to sign the Title. When I'm available, she isn't. She says she is out of town a lot. She is just stalling. She is just trying to make my life miserable. What may happen if I called the Missouri Highway Patrol and reported the car stolen and told them where they could find it? I doubt if the laws are that much different between Tennessee and Missouri.
  I really don't want to get my sister in too much trouble but she has become such a jerk by taking things my children want really upsets me. She has stolen so much stuff and she tells the attorney was her's is not really important to me. That is only money. She is very money oriented!! My family is the most important thing. I'm about to disown a sister.
  Just give me your opinion about calling the Highway Patrol. I thank you for taking your time and hope this finds you and your family well and happy. I await your response..
Skip

Answer
Skip:

I wouldn't open a can of worms by involving law enforcement.  Quite frankly, they probably wouldn't know what to do anyway.

With that said, I won't lie to you either . . . I don't know the Probate Code in Missouri.  It could be and may very well be very different from that of Tennessee.

In short, you should consult with you lawyer.  Advise him of the potential conflict in his or her representation of you and you sister and see what they advise.

Jason Barnette
Barnette Law Offices, LLC
1800 Hayes Street; Suite 122
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Phone: 615-585-2245
Facsimile: 615-250-8787
http://www.barnettelawoffices.com