Dear Pastor,

My father died five years ago leaving my mother, my sister, and me. My father had many outside children. I do not know all of them but, I was told there are about seven. My father left some money in the bank, more than $2 million. It was my sister and I who took care of our father's funeral. My father did not make a will, neither did he have anybody else's name on his account.

Some of his outside children have asked my mother what my father left for them. My mother told them that he did not leave anything for anybody. She also wanted to find out why they did not make any contribution to his funeral. My mother is a very quiet lady.

Can you tell us what we should do about the money and how to get his other children off my mother's back?

R.D.

Dear R.D.,

It seems to me that this is a matter for the administrator general. Your father died without making a will so the administrator general would have to advise you what to do.

In the meantime, your father's children need to get off your mother's back. I know when one has money in the bank and dies, relatives can take all the receipts for expenses of the funeral home to the bank. The bank will pay for the funeral expenses from the account.

Your mother has nothing to fear. You should stand with her and deal with this matter according to law.

Pastor