Two more calls made this morning. The first was to the reverse mortgage company. Late last week I got a package (i.e very thick envelope) that basically said if I didn't have my ducks in a row 30 days from when informed them of his death I would have foreclosed on the house. Now technically since it's only his credit a foreclosure would be ruining that's not a bad thing but there are still a few things in the house I haven't been able to get out of the house yet (remember the whole Uhaul issue?).
Candy says that foreclosure isn't on the table yet, but it is an option. She still needs some paperwork from me (reciept for the probate - more on that later) and a copy of the will (can't believe so many people need that - shouldn't that be private? Jeepers when the wills are read on "All My Children" they never show Jackson Montgomery sending copies to everyone that asks for one.) Yes I still need to have the house appraised (and as soon as I find out what my clinical schedule is/or the life insurance check arrives I'll make that appointment) but nothing can be done on my end or theirs until that happens. Just when I was about to breathe easier she hits me with the "do you know what you want to do" question. I hate that question almost as much as I hate the "how are you doing question". Of course I don't know what I'm going to do, you just told me I couldn't do anything until the appraisal has been done, how do you expect me to tell you what I'm going to do until I have all the information? Yes I know you're just doing your job but please understand it's only been 31 days. Had your company given me the information of the options, etc. when I called back in February I would be better prepared for such queries. Now you have to work on my schedule for awhile.
So I keep getting these letters from Dad's creditors starting off with the "we're sorry for your loss" crap followed very quickly by "we need you to send us papers so we can take everything you own". Ok, that's slightly an exaggeration, but not by much. Basically they are trying to get what they are owed by attaching themselves to the estate. The question is what is considered an estate. Next phone call was to the probate office of the Norfolk Circuit Court. Turns out since Dad didn't have any tangible assets (anything that can be picked up and moved (his definition not mine), including bank accounts, bonds, etc) he didn't have an estate. So what did I spend all that money on? Putting the will on record and transferring the houses in my name. According to Javier at the probate office, since there is no estate, the creditors can't do anything, unless they put a lien on the houses. IF that happens I wouldn't be able to sell them until the bills are paid.
