My Husband Passed Away In A Tragic Accident Just Last Week. Before His Funeral Flowers Even Faded, My Sister-in-law Showed Up With A Handwritten Note And Ordered Me To Pack My Bags. She Claims He Left The Entire House To Her For ‘ancestor Worship’ And Says I Have No Right To Stay.

The Search for Truth

I stared at that message for an hour. What letter? My father hadn’t spoken to me in 10 years. Why would he leave me a letter?

I called Kenneth.

“Did Dad leave any personal letters? Anything addressed to me?”

“Not that I’m aware of,” Kenneth said. His voice was careful. “Why?”

“Just curious.”

“Thomas, you’re not having second thoughts about the settlement, are you? Because I need to be clear. This offer has an expiration date. If you’re not ready to move forward, we need to know now.”

“I’m thinking about it.”

“Think faster. Time is running out.”

He hung up. I sat at my desk staring at that mysterious email and felt the first real prickle of suspicion crawl down my spine. That’s when I started digging.

Nothing dramatic, just basic research. I Googled my father’s name along with “Will” and “estate.” I checked public records. I looked up the contest period Maggie had mentioned.,

That’s when I found it. Buried in a legal forum discussion about BC estate law, someone had posted a question about a similar situation: siblings trying to settle an estate before a contest period ended.

And one of the responses had said: “Be careful. Sometimes beneficiaries rush to settle because they know there’s a more recent will that benefits someone else.”

A more recent will. My hands were shaking as I called the number for Dad’s old law firm, Whitmore and Davidson.

I got transferred three times before I reached someone who could help me.

“I’m Thomas Warren,” I said. “Robert Warren’s son. I’m trying to get information about my father’s estate.”

The woman’s voice was sympathetic but firm.

“I’m sorry Mr. Warren, but we can’t discuss client matters without proper authorization.”

“I’m a beneficiary. Doesn’t that give me the right to see the will?”

“You’ll need to go through the executive. In this case, that would be your brother Kenneth Warren.”,

“What if I think the executive isn’t being honest with me?”

A pause. Then:

“You may want to consult with your own attorney, Mr. Warren.”

I was about to hang up when she added quietly:

“But for what it’s worth, you might want to check if there was more than one law firm involved in your father’s estate planning. Sometimes clients work with multiple firms for different purposes.”

Multiple firms. That’s when I understood. That’s when the pieces started falling into place.

I spent the next two days searching. I called every law firm in Vancouver. Most wouldn’t talk to me. But on the third day, I called a small firm in Kitsilano.

“Morrison and Associates,” the receptionist said.

“I’m calling about Robert Warren’s estate.”

“One moment please.”

Then a woman’s voice, older, professional:

“This is Patricia Morrison. How may I help you?”

“My name is Thomas Warren. I’m Robert Warren’s son. I need to know if your firm has any documents related to his estate.”

Silence. Then:

“Mr. Warren, I’ve been trying to reach you. I sent a letter to your last known address last week but it was returned. Would you be willing to come to my office?”,