Legal Heir
My grandmother died in March. As of today, I am her legal heir and executor. That only took four months. I like legal proceedings so much better on television, where they fit neatly into an hour. Wouldn’t it be great if life could progress that way? I would love it if an event could happen, only two or three minor plot twists occurred, then after a couple of breaks the conclusion happened, all within an hour.
Now I get to translate some more documents and see who wants their inheritance. Interestingly enough, I am not to give anything to anyone named unless they acknowledge me as such, and sign off on it. My family in France should be no problem. I’ll post them a pile of letters next week – Georgia legal documents in English, with French translations and note from me. They are always cooperative and kind. Close family friends will get their letters directly from the attorney (no translation required.) I’ll see if I can reach my brother, who hasn’t signed a thing as yet, for no particular reason.
I said to the attorney that I hope not all his clients have such dysfunctional families. He and the paralegal laughed and said, I must be kidding – he’s an estate attorney.
Right.
I’ve been my grandmothers translator for 30 years. Apparently, death does not bring this to an end.
Have I mentioned that I have twelve boxes of paperwork to organize from my grandmothers apartment? Yes, twelve. And this does not include the two copies (books) that I have from the French equivalent of the national archives, the documents I already had in my own safe deposit box, or the documents in my grandmothers safe deposit box. I am certain that I mentioned they are in French, English, Italian, Latin and German.
Words I never thought I’d type: Would somebody bring me a German for Christmas?
Reading the rest of them will not actually be a problem of their content, but the sheer volume. I must sort them from random clippings of Southern Living recipes and AJC articles and expired coupons. I found my one of my uncles birth certificates last week in a box of gift wrap. I probably mentioned this.
I am tired.
Oh yeah, and I present to you the new Duchess of Dino Talleyrand-Périgord. Me. I should call back that historian and tell her Duchess Renee has passed and I now have the information she needs. I’m sure my grandmother would want me to do that.
