This is a story I picked up online at zewt.blogspot.com. Zewt’s mom, who is an adopted child, passed away 8 months ago without leaving a Will. Since the mother is adopted, the authorities requires Zewt’s grandparents to be tracked down. Why? If they are alive, they are entitled for a portion of the estate, even though it is small.
Because we are unable to track our birth grandparents’ where-about, the authorities, under the authority of Unclaimed Monies Act, will take a chunk out of my Mom’s account balances which they intend to “pass to my birth grandparents”. How are they going to do it? Beats me!!!
Now, the money inside Mom’s account is not exactly substantial. But what I am really angry is that the they, under the authority of Unclaimed Monies Act, will do all they can to take away whatever your parents or spouses have should they (touch wood) passed away without a will. And when you can show evidence that you are the children or husband or wife of the deceased, they will do all they can to bite of a chunk!
This is a case of ignorant is NOT bliss.
So friends, the law is brutal. And if we let it capitalizes on our ‘tidak-apa’ (“don’t care”) attitude, it will kill us. Therefore, make sure you get your parents or your spouses, particularly the Chinese to write a will now. I cannot stress enough.
Other people also commented their own experience dealing with such matters. You can read at Zewt’s blog