Who's entitled to the property of parent long time friend or his children.

The definite answer depends on facts not given in your question regarding your father's marital history, whether the property is his community or separate property, and if he was married, whether he had any children outside the marriage to his current spouse. However, your father's estate will go to his heirs in some form or fashion. Your father's heirs include his children and possible spouse. Friends never take when there is not a will. A friend, regardless of the duration doesn't get anything...unless of course this friend is a female friend that claims she was common law married to your father. Then she would be entitled to something as a spouse. I would advise you to talk with a probate attorney in your area and provide them with all the necessary details so they can give you a definite answer to your question.

I agree with my colleagues. Unfortunately, when you are dealing with personal belongings and household effects, there is no title involved. So it can be next to impossible to PROVE who the items belonged to. Even though these items tend to have very little actual value, people still fight over them, because of the sentimental value. If you decide to open an estate, the administrator will have the right to take possession of all estate assets. Proving what that consists of in the case of personal items is going to be the challenge, however. Whether it is worth pursuing is something you would need to decide. A lawyer can help you in understanding the procedure and the costs involved. James Frederick