New thread...same subject..NEWSFLASH !!

[C.Ann]

In the SS Death Index, my sister is listed under her maiden name.. She is also buried under her maiden name.. The police report and the death certificate are in her maiden name..

If a person has been committed to a mental institution and divorced by their spouse while they are institutionalized, would the mentally unstable person have the presence of mind to contact Social Security and request a name change??

 

[chell]

Good question there!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I was wondering about the name change, too. How could she have changed her name if she was really that unstable?

 

[Lanshark]

I can't imagine money would be the issue. Anything would have gone to her daughter anyway. It sounds like a control issue. The question would be why now?

 

[Tuffcookie]

For what it's worth, regarding the changing back to the maiden name...Sometimes, when a divorce is granted, the judge will stipulate that the former spouse will go back to her former name.

TC

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Tuffcookie
For what it's worth, regarding the changing back to the maiden name...Sometimes, when a divorce is granted, the judge will stipulate that the former spouse will go back to her former name.

TC

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That thought crossed my mind - but she still would have had to make the change through SS on her own.. And - usually when there is a child involved - the mother will retain her married name so that she and her child will have the same last name until such time that the mother remarries..

 

[Tuffcookie]

Do you know for a fact that they were actually married in the first place, or just living together?
Another thing I don't remember you saying in your previous posts...Do you know where your niece was born? If you do, then I believe the niece's birth certificate would have whether the parents were married or not.

TC

 

[cati]

C.Ann, been keeping up, sounds like you are finding out alot. My DH was afraid to call the PD for fear he would get your ex-BIL relative.

Do you think there was any way your sister and he was not actually married. If so, then if you had paternity test on him and the child, if she was not his, then you would have the right to custody of her.

Also, if she was hospitalized for mental problems and she was granted a divorce, the hospital in those situations usually has someone advise them on any paperwork that would need to be done on her behalf.

But your niece would be the one getting any money that was allowed. She would also be elligible for any social security drawn on your sister and this would be paid directly to her guardian to spend to raise her as that person wants to.

Maybe some things are catching up with him.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes - the thought has crossed my mind that they never married, but that would be highly unlikely based on her background (spending all those years in a convent) and at the time they met, "living together" wasn't socially acceptable like it is today..

However, it's also highly unlikely that she would throw herself in front of a train either, so who knows...

Her daughter was born out there - and I'm sure he's collecting SS benefits for her - which brings me back to wondering why he's made contact after all this time.. If there was any financial gain as a result of my sisters death, he has already acquired it - so what's the angle? Could it be as simple as a guilty conscience that he didn't let us know sooner? Has my niece started to ask questions about her mothers family and he decided he better start his sales pitch so he doesn't look like the bad guy?

Time will tell....

 

[BCVOwner2002]

C.Ann,

Glad to see you are getting more information. I would not contact PD here or there again (especially since his BIL is a policeman). This reporter seems to be very helpful and perhaps will dig up more information for you. I don't think this person would get involved if something with this story didn't sound "fishy" to him too! Keep us posted. My thoughts and prayers are with you even more during this time of question.

Annmarie

 

[Poohbear123]

Best of luck to you, and hope it turns out OK.

 

[Princess_Aurora]

As far as the name change goes, do you know for sure if she took his last name? My sister and her husband have been married for 7 years and she has never filled out the paperwork to change her name on her SS card, so she still goes by her madian name on all legal documents and stuff. Maybe that's just what happened in her case.