I have a story to share... Well, it is DH's story. You see, his dad died when he was young, leaving a sister parents, him, and a widow.
Grandparents were always in DH's life, from babysitting while mom worked, to fishing, etc... So after we were married, we made a point to travel to see them about once a year, sometimes 2x per year. We were 22-30 at this time, so using up a week of vacation to go drive to visit elderly grand parent -in-laws was not really that exciting, but we were glad to see them.
Well, life got pretty busy for us with small children, a move to California (now to far to travel to see them), and then DH was sick with mono for a year... Meanwhile, we could never get through on Grandpa's phone, so no contact with him for 2 years, and never followed up that diligently either...
So when grandpa passed away a couple of years ago, we had a bit of shock to learn that DH's Aunt had previously moved him to a care facility nearer to her (great!) but never called us so we could have a chance to see him --as the new city was one we did go to sometimes--, and worst of all, upon death decided to hold no funeral (Grandpa was depressed in the last years, and we knew this was likely his wish), but did not even call DH to say that grandpa had passed away. We found out because another elderly relative (other side of family) reads the obits put out by funeral homes -- read that it stated "no funeral", and had posted a few details about his life / family and recognized him and let us know.
As DH had been adopted by another man some 15 years before, (mom remarried) the sole inheritor by intestate rules would have been DH's aunt.. but man, it is so odd because Grandpa used to talk about his will sometimes to us (but not about money in it), and it seems so strange that DH and his great grandkids would have been deliberately cut out. We are surmising in the best possible way that there was no money left, even after grandpa's home was sold....(the care facility would have cost close to the government monthly stipend, so not drawn from his personal monies, except for the transfer and for clothing). At the end of it all, all DH only really wanted a small decorative wooden tray his dad had made before he died... that grandpa had treasured more than anything else, and kept with him. Ugh. Probably put into the trash.
What do you do when relatives don't even have the courtesy to tell the only other direct descendant that the patriarch was moved to a care home and then that he died a year later? Especially if there is hints that this was done to mask plundering of any remaining accounts (using power of attorney / joint banking, etc)?