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Father Died 5 Weeks Ago. Sister Ghosted Me, Excluded Me From The Funeral, And Claims The Will Is Stuck In A Bank Lockbox. Attorney Only Has An "unsigned" Copy. What Is Going On?

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I’m looking for some insight on what is most likely going on here because I’m being kept in the dark.

Location: Mississippi. I’m the oldest of two siblings. My father passed away about 30 days ago. He and I had a rocky relationship our entire life. I recall him telling me in a rage during an argument years ago that he wrote me out of the will, but I never saw proof.

On the night he died, my sister told me that my uncle was the executor. She said my dad’s attorney had a copy of the will, but the original was in a lockbox at the bank. She told me my uncle was coming into town the next day to go with her to get the will.

Then, complete silence. We haven’t talked for a few weeks. I started wondering what was going on with the estate, so I Googled his name and found the obituary. It lists a "Celebration of Life" for next weekend. My sister hasn't contacted me about this at all, so I’m basically excluded from the funeral.

I decided to call the attorney my sister mentioned. He told me that he only has an unsigned copy of the will in his files. He said if my dad hadn’t changed anything, the signed version would leave everything to my sister. However, he said the lockbox is in my dad’s name only, and they are having a "longer process" getting it out. That is apparently why they haven’t filed probate yet.

It has been 5 weeks since he died. My uncle was supposed to start handling this weeks ago.

Is this "lockbox delay" a real excuse for not filing anything for 5 weeks? If they eventually get in there and there is no will (or only an unsigned one), does the draft at the lawyer's office count? I feel like they are stalling to try and bypass me. What should I do?

submitted by /u/Interesting-Idea-426
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