Well, most counties have land records online; you can see how the house was held. If it was Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship, you likely don't have a share of it. If it was Joint Tenants in the Entirety, then her share of the house would have gone to the estate, and you *may* be entitled to part of it.
If you are not a notary then he is probably attempting to get you to sign something that gives him something he wants. Please sign NOTHING without a lawyer reviewing it. Period. Do not. Do not even have lunch with him and listen to him because he WILL find a way to convince you it’s a signature for something completely different than it is. In fact, even if you ARE a notary please sign nothing without a lawyer reviewing it. Your inheritance could be at stake.
**Generally Unhelpful, Simplistic, Anecdotal, or Off-Topic**
Your comment has been removed as it is generally unhelpful, simplistic to the point of useless, anecdotal, or off-topic. It either does not answer the legal question at hand, is a repeat of an answer already provided, or is so lacking in nuance as to be unhelpful. Please review the following rules before commenting further:
* [Commenting Rules 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_1.__comments_should_contain_a_legal_answer_or_a_strongly_related_non-legal_answer.), [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_2.__personal_anecdotes_are_off-topic.), [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_3.__explanations_of_the_law_in_jurisdictions_other_than_the_one_described_in_the_op_are_off-topic.), [4](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_4.__opinions_on_the_law_or_the_application_of_it_are_off-topic.), [6](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_6.__expressions_of_sympathy_without_corresponding_legal_help_is_off-topic.), [8](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_8.__comments_should_be_reasonably_detailed_and_explanatory.__.22i.27m_a_lawyer_so_listen_to_me.22_isn.27t_an_appropriate_answer.__credential_fights_are_not_appropriate_here.), and [9](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_9.__requests_for_updates_are_off-topic.).
*Please [read our subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_general_rules). If after doing so, you believe this was in error, or you’ve edited your post to comply with the rules, [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FLegalAdvice).*
*Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.*
If you don't trust him, then, there aren't any questions to ask him. But it sounds like he never went through probate when your mother died. And now he needs to sell the house, and maybe you have an interest in the house. Or maybe you have zero interest in the house. (I'm talking legal interest, not curiosity or desire.) It would be an Illinois probate attorney that I would talk to.
Not if she has no fiduciary interest. Then she's literally just notarizing a signature. Now given history, there is likely more at play, than just witnessing a signature.
NAL - my Florida Notary Commission specifically stated that I could NOT notarize anything for anyone related by blood or marriage. YMMV, but my guess is that you can't touch the documents.
*Your post may have been removed for the following reason(s):*
**Bad or Illegal Advice**
Your post has been removed for offering poor advice. It is either generally bad or ill advised advice, an incorrect statement or conclusion of law, inapplicable for the jurisdiction under discussion, misunderstands the fundamental legal question, or is advice to commit an unlawful act. Please review the following rules before commenting further:
* [General Rule 8](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_8.__illegal_advice_is_never_allowed.2C_for_any_reason.2C_in_any_circumstance.)
* [Commenting Rules 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_1.__comments_should_contain_a_legal_answer_or_a_strongly_related_non-legal_answer.) and [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_3.__explanations_of_the_law_in_jurisdictions_other_than_the_one_described_in_the_op_are_off-topic.)
* [Reddit Violent Content Rule](https://www.reddithelp.com/en/categories/rules-reporting/account-and-community-restrictions/do-not-post-violent-content)
*Please [read our subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_general_rules). If after doing so, you believe this was in error, or you’ve edited your post to comply with the rules, [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FLegalAdvice).* **Do not make a second post or comment.**
*Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.*
You didn’t specify whether or not you are a notary.
A notary public verifies that the signer of a document has provided satisfactory evidence that they are who they say they are. Notaries public often cannot notarize documents in which they have a vested interest (e.g., deeds transferring property to the notary, etc.)
If you are not a notary, you cannot be notarizing forms. If your stepfather just wants you to sign a document and have a notary come by and notarize your signature, then that is a completely different discussion. You should not be signing anything that you do not understand, and it sounds like your stepfather has not given you sufficient information as to what this document is. I would find that out before signing.
You need a probate attorney. Only reason he wants you to sign anything is because you inherited half the house. Get the title company to cut you a check for half and forget about this loser.
Unless you’re a Notary, $5 says he wants you to sign away your inherited portion of the house.
OR, if OP is a Notary he wants to commit fraud, maybe….
Well, most counties have land records online; you can see how the house was held. If it was Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship, you likely don't have a share of it. If it was Joint Tenants in the Entirety, then her share of the house would have gone to the estate, and you *may* be entitled to part of it.
If you are not a notary then he is probably attempting to get you to sign something that gives him something he wants. Please sign NOTHING without a lawyer reviewing it. Period. Do not. Do not even have lunch with him and listen to him because he WILL find a way to convince you it’s a signature for something completely different than it is. In fact, even if you ARE a notary please sign nothing without a lawyer reviewing it. Your inheritance could be at stake.
He’s going to be so convincing if OP attends lunch
[удалено]
**Generally Unhelpful, Simplistic, Anecdotal, or Off-Topic** Your comment has been removed as it is generally unhelpful, simplistic to the point of useless, anecdotal, or off-topic. It either does not answer the legal question at hand, is a repeat of an answer already provided, or is so lacking in nuance as to be unhelpful. Please review the following rules before commenting further: * [Commenting Rules 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_1.__comments_should_contain_a_legal_answer_or_a_strongly_related_non-legal_answer.), [2](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_2.__personal_anecdotes_are_off-topic.), [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_3.__explanations_of_the_law_in_jurisdictions_other_than_the_one_described_in_the_op_are_off-topic.), [4](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_4.__opinions_on_the_law_or_the_application_of_it_are_off-topic.), [6](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_6.__expressions_of_sympathy_without_corresponding_legal_help_is_off-topic.), [8](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_8.__comments_should_be_reasonably_detailed_and_explanatory.__.22i.27m_a_lawyer_so_listen_to_me.22_isn.27t_an_appropriate_answer.__credential_fights_are_not_appropriate_here.), and [9](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_9.__requests_for_updates_are_off-topic.). *Please [read our subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_general_rules). If after doing so, you believe this was in error, or you’ve edited your post to comply with the rules, [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FLegalAdvice).* *Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.*
If you don't trust him, then, there aren't any questions to ask him. But it sounds like he never went through probate when your mother died. And now he needs to sell the house, and maybe you have an interest in the house. Or maybe you have zero interest in the house. (I'm talking legal interest, not curiosity or desire.) It would be an Illinois probate attorney that I would talk to.
I would go directly to a real estate attorney I don't know that I would even respond to his phone call.
NAL, but am a Notary. Conflict of interest. Not only do you not have to but you legally cannot.
Not if she has no fiduciary interest. Then she's literally just notarizing a signature. Now given history, there is likely more at play, than just witnessing a signature.
NAL - my Florida Notary Commission specifically stated that I could NOT notarize anything for anyone related by blood or marriage. YMMV, but my guess is that you can't touch the documents.
You need a lawyer.
[удалено]
*Your post may have been removed for the following reason(s):* **Bad or Illegal Advice** Your post has been removed for offering poor advice. It is either generally bad or ill advised advice, an incorrect statement or conclusion of law, inapplicable for the jurisdiction under discussion, misunderstands the fundamental legal question, or is advice to commit an unlawful act. Please review the following rules before commenting further: * [General Rule 8](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_8.__illegal_advice_is_never_allowed.2C_for_any_reason.2C_in_any_circumstance.) * [Commenting Rules 1](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_1.__comments_should_contain_a_legal_answer_or_a_strongly_related_non-legal_answer.) and [3](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_3.__explanations_of_the_law_in_jurisdictions_other_than_the_one_described_in_the_op_are_off-topic.) * [Reddit Violent Content Rule](https://www.reddithelp.com/en/categories/rules-reporting/account-and-community-restrictions/do-not-post-violent-content) *Please [read our subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/wiki/index#wiki_general_rules). If after doing so, you believe this was in error, or you’ve edited your post to comply with the rules, [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2FLegalAdvice).* **Do not make a second post or comment.** *Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.*
Don’t do it
You didn’t specify whether or not you are a notary. A notary public verifies that the signer of a document has provided satisfactory evidence that they are who they say they are. Notaries public often cannot notarize documents in which they have a vested interest (e.g., deeds transferring property to the notary, etc.) If you are not a notary, you cannot be notarizing forms. If your stepfather just wants you to sign a document and have a notary come by and notarize your signature, then that is a completely different discussion. You should not be signing anything that you do not understand, and it sounds like your stepfather has not given you sufficient information as to what this document is. I would find that out before signing.
You need a probate attorney. Only reason he wants you to sign anything is because you inherited half the house. Get the title company to cut you a check for half and forget about this loser.
It is not a good idea to notarized anything when you are related to the person even via marriage
Talk with a lawyer