Before you begin
This questionnaire helps our office gather the family history and property information needed to prepare an affidavit of heirship.
This is an estimate if you have the information ready. Larger families and more complex histories may take longer. Allow extra time to look up records or contact family members and witnesses.
Unknown answers still need follow-up
Our office needs all applicable information requested in this questionnaire. Where an Unknown button is available, you may use it to keep working, but any information you mark Unknown must be provided to our office later. An Unknown answer does not remove the need for that information.
If you need time to find an answer, save your progress and return when you have it.
What you’ll need
Give complete names, including middle names, former names, and other names used. Known dates should be entered as MM/DD/YYYY.
- Property informationThe address of the property being transferred, including City, County, State, and ZIP.
- The person who diedFull legal name and other names used; dates of birth and death; place of death; and full home address at death.
- Every marriage and other relevant relationshipEach spouse’s name, marriage date and location, how and when the marriage ended, and any common-law marriages or long-term live-in partners.
- All children and relevant descendantsEvery biological and adopted child from every relationship, including deceased children. Gather names, birth and death dates, other parents’ names, living status, and current addresses. If a child has died, you’ll also be asked about that child’s children.
- Two witnesses and a family contactPeople who personally know the family and marriage history. For witnesses, gather full names, addresses, 10-digit phone numbers, relationships to the person who died, and the dates they knew that person. Witnesses must be willing to sign an affidavit and must not expect to inherit or receive estate property.
- Estate and return informationWhether there is a will, a probate or estate proceeding, unpaid debts, or unpaid estate or inheritance taxes; your contact information; and the name and mailing address for returning recorded documents.
What to expect
The questionnaire has six sections, followed through in order: property and decedent, marriages, children and descendants, witnesses, estate and contact details, and a final review.
The questions change based on your answers. Entering three marriages opens three marriage question sets. Questions about descendants appear when a child is deceased. Later questions use the names you have entered to help you keep track of each person.
Required questions must be answered before you can continue. You can go back to correct earlier answers. At the end, review the information, complete the acknowledgment, and submit it to our office. This intake does not replace signing the affidavit before a notary.
How to save and come back
- Click Save & return later at the top of any questionnaire page. You can save even if the page is incomplete.
- Wait for the Draft saved message, then use Copy link to keep your private return link in a secure place.
- Open that link to return to your saved answers and saved page, including on another device. The link is valid for 90 days after your most recent save.
- Click Save & return later again after making changes and before closing the form. Changes are not saved automatically.
Keep your return link confidential. Anyone with the link can view and edit your draft. The return link stops working after the intake is submitted.
Contact our office at 903-481-9097.