How can a state (Ca.) take stocks from a family (Allegheny) there was a will, Ca. called them abandonded?

Question

the stocks were not abandonded , they were hid from us for 22 years , he died in 1984 the will is stamped by the courts 1987 , the lawyer that took care of this will not tell us anything other than the records were destroyed .

Answer 1

I strongly disagree with the answer above.

While there are lawyers who steal from their clients, there aren't any more dishonest lawyers than there are in any other profession. I think the problem is that the legal profession is held to incredibly high standards, (rightly so) and so when those standards are breached, lawyers in general get painted with the same tarbrush.

That being said: stocks which are not claimed within a certain period, (this period varies from state to state) are usually forwarded by the company to the state's Unclaimed Property division. That division attempts to locate the rightful heirs, and publishes notices every so often.

After a period of time in unclaimed property, such property escheats (is surrendered) to the state. Again, this period of time varies from state to state, so you would need to contact a California attorney.

If you believe that the California attorney is not being truthful, then you should probably contact the California Bar Association and file a grievance. They can assist you with this matter, and if it is found that an attorney has misappropriated client's property, it is not unusual for the attorney to be disbarred.

For a referral for a California attorney to assist you in resolving this, contact the California Bar Association.

Answer 2

If you know the name of the stocks or companies than you can contact them and demand to know what happened to them. It's possible that the lawyer may have pocketed them himself which happens a lot more than people realize.. Hire a lawyer to work on a percentae if possible as 50 percent of soemthing is bette rthan 50% of nothing.
it was his lawyer's (or any lawyer) duty to find and locate heirs or family and inform them of any business conducted with their dead relative. Sounds like your're being screwed and I would not wait around on this one.
Contrary to what they would have you to beleive most lawyers are not honest with their clients and would steal their momma eyesite if it benefitted themselves.