The local writer's manuscript, along with all its lawyers and prima donna players that I found in an auction lot I recently purchased has "come calling!"
I am now required by a state court to turn over the property, and any documentation that I have acquired since its purchase, to the courts, just to establish its authenticity and help to determine proper ownership.
I never wanted to be in anything like this. It was MY county sheriff's deputy who knocked on my door (absolutely amazing hunk of a MAN, TBH), "While I Had Family Visiting From Texas, PLEASE!!," and made me aware that my notifications to the family in question have been recorded by the court already and I have ten days to comply with the court order.
OK, now wait a minute.
What court order?...... well, apparently, the manuscript was hidden from the family and the wishes of a person I have never before heard words of were in the process of being "finalized" when he died. He had hidden the manuscript from his annoying family while he worked through its succession toward his end. Never finished.
Now, we living must finish what ever began long ago. He died twelve years ago and just last month was the auction to settle the estate? I had clues along the way. WTF am I in the middle of?
I posted that I would freely give back the manuscript to the family, but according to the Deputy Sheriff, I can not do so, without first following the court's decision to turn over the property to the court for full establishment of its authenticity and ownership. Yeah, well, it's a yellowed ream of old faded inked over pages, encased in a leather satchel thingy that was a surprise when I found it.
I am pretty sure that I bought it legally at an auction, specifically created to settle, once and for all, the final distribution of all properties left by "one , if referenced further within this document shall be simply referenced as the decedent."
I also HATE "referenced as." It just feels wrong!! Now, I have a legal document requiring me to do something that doesn't even make sense, if we agree that we are actually conducting this business in ENGLISH!!!! The, "mother fucker!!" and a few other explitives are assumed.
