Estranged Dad Died 3 Months Ago, New Wife Kept It A Secret.

Location: Florida

I’ve been estranged from my dad for almost 11 years. I am 30 years old. My mom and dad are divorced and my mom had a restraining order against my dad for the same amount of time. I’ve been estranged from his whole side of the family as they all believed him and not my mom and me. My whole family is from Canada and my parents moved to the US when I was a baby. I have dual citizenship and my mom and dad have a green card.

My mom got a letter in the mail from a debt collector “to the estate of my dad”. That’s how we found out he died in January. I messaged my cousin to ask if my dad died. I haven’t spoken to her in about 7 years. She said yes and she wasn’t allowed to tell me. She is also 30. She told me he remarried and his wife said my cousin couldn’t tell me for legal reasons. She also told me he died in an accident. They were married in my city in Florida in 2024, they both lived in this city previously. She is also Canadian and that his wife moved to Canada after he died. He died in a different city in Florida. She cremated him and she has his ashes.

I don’t know what legal reasons she would be referring to. My mom is entitled to his social security now or maybe an inheritance for me.

I really don’t know how I feel about everything. I’m not really sad, I’m angry and confused. I feel guilty that I am not more sad. I’m just feeling really weird. I don’t like that this was kept from me intentionally. She made sure to not have an obituary and nothing was posted online by any family. My cousin said that only a few people went to his funeral.

Do I seek some kind of legal advice or just leave it behind? I just don’t know what to do or think.