Death with only a "copy" of a will

[cpaiowa]

I recently had my father pass away without a will. Subsequently stepchildren located a "copy" of a will from an attorney that my father had drawn up. Do they have any legal grounds to stand on with just a copy? Under our state law, since my father was widowed, all his assets would pass to his biological children. The "copy" indicates the estate is to be split with the step-kids.

Help

 

[lwpat]

How greedy are you?

If the will was in the possession of an attorney it should have original signatures, not a copy. If it is unsigned or just a zerox copy then it is not a legal will and your father died intestate.
This means that state law governs.

That is the legal situation but have you considered the moral aspects. In other words how greedy are you? If you father intended that his estate be split with the stepchildren are you ready to play the role of the wicked witch?