AboutDavid Hollingsworth Expertise I have quite a bit of experience in the field of Probate in Central Indiana along with general areas of civil law. I do not answer question regarding crimminal law or misdemeanors.
Question Mr. H., My father's cousin immigrated to the US in 1945 and died in 1986 in E. Chicago. My father was her closest relative but we all lived in another country. I am now in the US. How can I find out what happened to my relative's property? And should I after 22 years? Thank you, Jelena S.S.
Answer It will depend on the degree of conversion that Lake County Indiana has accomplished in their recorders office. I would go to the County recorders office at 2293 N. Main Street (2nd floor) in Crown Point Indiana (219-755-3730) and give them the cousins name and last address. They may be able to track down any property she had owned in 1986. IF the property was thereafter transferred they should be able to tell you how the deed was structured to the new owner. The other way would be to go to the CLerks office in the same building and ask if there ever had been an estate opened for her. They may or may not give you the information depending on what mood they are in that day. I have had good and bad experiences with the people in that office. If there was an estate and you could have been an heir then they should let you see the file. The inventory in the file would tell you whether she owned any property at the time of her death. The will should also tell you how the property was disposed of. My guess is after all this time there will be little that could ever be to your benefit due to the passage of time. JDH
