I Was Sent an Affidavit of Heirship, Do I /Have/ To Fill It Out? (don't need answer fast)

In My Humble Opinion
21

Just to clarify, this sounds like something my sister and I had to file in my father’s probate case. It isn’t directly about claiming your share, it’s about your knowledge of anyone else who might have an interest in the estate. Neither of us had seen my father in something like 35 years or more, so it would have been better to have someone else do it if such a person existed.

But, there wasn’t anyone, so it was all just to the best of our knowledge, he never had any other children, and was not married, nor were his parents still alive. I think it is just a way of identifying who could possibly have an interest in the estate so they will have notice and the ability to take part if they want to.

22

Since the actual question is disposed of…fairly sure that the SS office stopped distributing your dad’s SS checks as soon as he died and a death certificate was filed. They are sneaky smart about things like that.

23

True.

But depending on the rest of the demographic details, him being married to his estranged 3rd wife at the time of his death allows her to continue legitimately collecting benefits off his work record from then until she dies.

Which might not be the case had they divorced once they were estranged.

All 100% legal, if a smidgen underhanded.