Posted by CCE on 5/21/06

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Death and Probate Issues......check computers!!!!!

Because so many families are using computers, Email, and
the Internet one should ALWAYS consider the analysis of the
deceased's computer. Many cases of contested estates have
been solved or modified because of computer evidence found
by a computer forensics investigator right after death or
when probate starts. If you hire one, make sure he/she is
licensed, otherwise the unlicensed computer technician,
or "friend" who checks out that computer will make mistakes
and will be disqualified in court. They will miss data, and
won't know how to present computer data showing wills, E-
mail, assests and more.

In all Probate Cases the "Computer can be your best
witness" and that can happen with licensed computer
forensics investigators who can find data that is hidden,
disguised, or deleted. There are fantastic examples of
families who discovered last words, wills, stocks, bonds,
safe deposit boxes, and other deeply personal things just
by finding the data on the deceased's computer. The results
of computer forensic analysis can be a relief when no other
proof is available to protect the estate from unreasonable
relatives and claimants.

You can also discover computer/online behavior of the
deceased and how he or she spent their last days, if the
deceased was a regular PC and Internet user. Sometimes the
deceased knew the best ways of hiding data, however, a
skilled and equipped licensed computer forensics
investigator will find it all.

An interesting case is the Scott/Laci Peterson double-
homicide case, where licensed computer forensics
investigators, analyzed five PC's used by Scott and Laci.
Last words, profiles, times of PC use, Internet shopping
behavior, pornography, finances, and more were found to
assist the prosecution.

CAUTION: The licensing issue is VERY important if you
want your computer evidence to help in your Probate Case.
You will find many "unlicensed Propeller Head
investigators" who won't tell you about this cruicial issue.

Computer, Death, and Probate, 5/21/06, by CCE.

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