Santa Maria, CA Estate Planning Law Firms & Lawyers

Michigan (and most state's) law provides a standard distribution scheme in the absence of a will. Which State's law controls is dependent upon where your grandfather (and your parents) lived when they died. However, in MI first a surviving wife takes 100% if all children were from the marriage (50% if not and the kids get 50%) If no surviving wife, children take it equally per stirrups.. So if a child predeceases a parent the children of the deceased child (e.g. grandchildren) split that portion that would have gone to their parent and so on.. A minor wrinkle.. if your grandfather before his children, e.g., one of your parents died after grandpop died, that parent's share goes into their estate and if they had a will it would be distributed through that parents estate. Generally there will have to be a probate action started where the land is located so a personal representative can be appointed.. and in every estate of every child to distribute that persons's interests ... I recently cleared up an estate from Great Grandfather (from Iowa), to Grandparents (multiple states ) , to parent (multiple multiples) to children (many)... for an interest in real property in Wyoming from the 1930s...all from here in Michigan so.. it can get very complicated.

Your question is ALL OVER the place. I strongly encourage you talk to an attorney directly and discuss the issues and your concerns. Most attorneys give free consultations and you will get much better information that way.