How can one access a deceased parent&#39;s assets?
<p>My mother passed away two months ago. I lived with her, because she had medical conditions, for pretty much my entire life.</p>

<p>I recently found out she and my father never divorced. She and he had been separated for 30 years because he was abusive, not that it probably applies. </p>

<p>She had no will. Is there any way I can obtain her funds? I haven't even had a memorial for her because I was unemployed. (She required nearly constant care.)</p>

<p>I'm in Alabama in the USA.</p>

<p>Sadly, her assets will go into probate, and a judge/probate master will have to rule on how they're disbursed.  Typically someone will be appointed as Administrator to the mother's estate. The administrator will contact all creditors, assemble and inventory/appraise the assets (i.e. furniture, car, house, bank accounts, etc.) and pay funerary expenses.</p>

<p>Since she died intestate, there will be certain specific rules about who inherits the proceeds.  The best avenue for the OP is to petition the court to appoint her as administrator of the estate.</p>

united-states wills divorce