I am lost- need help as to where or what I need to do to get information regarding my deceased fathers records?
I live in Texas- my parents diviorced 15 years ago and since then unaware to me she has kept all of his letters and any form of communication hidden from me. I was informed 2 days ago thru the attorney generals office – that my father was now listed as deceased. Thats it I ran a search and the only info I could get was that he died september 24,2008 in port richey florida and he was cremated. I need help finding my rights as his daughter to access his information such as siblings, last will and testimonys, and offical cause of death. Basicialy I want to find out as much as possible about him as I am not able to even visit a grave site? Please help- my family hated him and I have no support I have search online for for days finding anything I can and this is all I have. I f anyone knows of anything I can do please let me know?
Facts: Lewis william wood
02/07/1953 – 09/24/2008 died at age 55
Born in michigan- died in new port richey, florida (online it said ss listed as california)
divorced from: Tina Wood- Texas
known children: Ashley & Adam Wood Juanita (half sister I only heard of but no other info)
No alive relatives on his side
Please help in my search to know my deceased father – also why was I informed 2 years after the fact? Why Did it take that long?
~*~*~*~ Thank you for taking the time to help- as stated below-
The TEXAS attorney general sent the notification to my mother because of child support- back pay
I looked at the letter and althought I know she would not of told me the letter was mailed out 2 days before I saw it
And yes I did ask her and she ofcourse denies any letters were ever sent or recieved by him to us
Yes found funeral home and called but b/c privacy laws they could tell me nothing but he had past and he was cremated- thats where I hit a road block
thank you so much for any help- it truly means the world to me
> she has kept all of his letters and any form of communication hidden from me.
You could threaten to sue her for them. She might just burn them, though, and lie about it.
> the only info I could get was that he died september 24,2008 in port richey florida
You’ll have to write to the county there, prove you are related (A Xerox of your driver’s license and birth certificate should do it) and buy a copy of his death certificate. It will have cause of death and who did the cremation. The funeral home may have a copy of his obituary; it may not. If not, you can try writing to the county library, sending a SASE and a small donation. They will usually look it up for you. I looked for 20 minutes and didn’t see any obit on-line.
> siblings,
That will be in the obituary, maybe.
> last will
You’ll have to write to the probate court in his county, and will probably have to buy a copy.
> official cause of death.
Death certificate,, above.
> Basically I want to find out as much as possible about him
If his obit says he was a member of the Elks Club and First Methodist, you could write to both, explain your problem and ask if any member who knew him would send you their memories.
> also why was I informed 2 years after the fact? Why Did it take that long?
Just some guesses:
a) Your mother hates you
b) Your mother didn’t think it was important
c) He left you a million dollars and she is spending it as fast as she can
d) None of the above
> she has kept all of his letters and any form of communication hidden from me.
You could threaten to sue her for them. She might just burn them, though, and lie about it.
> the only info I could get was that he died september 24,2008 in port richey florida
You’ll have to write to the county there, prove you are related (A Xerox of your driver’s license and birth certificate should do it) and buy a copy of his death certificate. It will have cause of death and who did the cremation. The funeral home may have a copy of his obituary; it may not. If not, you can try writing to the county library, sending a SASE and a small donation. They will usually look it up for you. I looked for 20 minutes and didn’t see any obit on-line.
> siblings,
That will be in the obituary, maybe.
> last will
You’ll have to write to the probate court in his county, and will probably have to buy a copy.
> official cause of death.
Death certificate,, above.
> Basically I want to find out as much as possible about him
If his obit says he was a member of the Elks Club and First Methodist, you could write to both, explain your problem and ask if any member who knew him would send you their memories.
> also why was I informed 2 years after the fact? Why Did it take that long?
Just some guesses:
a) Your mother hates you
b) Your mother didn’t think it was important
c) He left you a million dollars and she is spending it as fast as she can
d) None of the above
References :
Get a copy of the death certificate, that and a copy of your birth certificate should be all the "proof" needed. The death certificate should indicate is the remains were interned and where. Since you didn’t indicate which Attorney General contacted you, I am at a loss to give suggestions about that, other than to contact them for additional information and instructions. Usually the Attorney General of a state doesn’t notify the family of a death.
The SS was issued in California, which only means that was where your father applied for the card originally, and nothing more.
You might ask the Attorney General’s Office is there is an Attorney involved and then contact that office
References :
Genealogical researcher 35+ years
WOOD, Lewis W., 50, of New Port Richey, Fla., died September 24, 2008. He is survived by his fiancee, Ingrid ******; son, *******; mother, *********; and best friend, *********. Dobies Funeral Home.
This Lewis W Wood has birth year of 1958, not 1953 is SSDI listing.
Y!A policy says no living persons named so send me an email via Y!A and I will give you the ******** names.
Are you sure all same person. Has SSA issued in CA, has last address with SSA as MI, is in TX in 1990’s and died in FL. If the Attorney General was contacting family it was probably about his estate and if you are over the age of 18 now and back in 2008 you should be able to contact that same office for the full reason. Port Richie is in Pasco County FL.
I see he is named in cases under "Court Records Search" and under "Recorded Court Documents" in Pasco Co, but I don’t find a Probate case opened so call and talk to county office as to why not.
http://www.pascoclerk.com/public-courts-svcs-info.asp
References :
NewsBank
Ancestry
Google search for Pacso County Government website.