I live in Los Angeles, CA. My mother passed away over a year ago in Douglas County after suffering from Cancer. I have one sister. I went to the Castle Rock courthouse for help-because my mother did not leave a will. I was concerned my sister would help herself to all of my mother's money and possessions, as she had already been known to have personally claimed most of my mother's more valuable items. Judge Michael Spear immediately took a disliking to me-as I sat there by myself on one side of the courtroom, while my sister sat next to an attorney that my mother's ex husband paid for on the other side. It soon became clear that Judge Spears did not like that I, an attractive female who is highly educated and outgoing was independently standing up for herself and seeking help from the judicial system. I became visibly emotional when speaking about my mother and my concerns and was visibly laughed at for doing so. I was simply requesting an independent court appointed representative oversee the administration of the estate. Not only was I completely denied this request, but my sister was awarded Personal Representative-even after several outside accounts that this was not a wise decision.
After months of effort in attempting to work with the other side as they spent thousands on moving my mother's property out of state TWICE, to then not allow me to collect ANY of it, while charging me for all of this-and removing items to their leisure, I requested help from the court. I had received nothing for items she kept or sold-NO bills of sale, NO money, NO nothing-and for requesting help I was refused my legal share-and told I have to actually PAY for ALL legal expenses in administrating the estate. An estate I didn't get a full 50% I was legally entitled to. I could actually end up owing the estate. He further went to say that it was "aggressive" to attempt to get these people to play fair and request that I be fairly treated.
That is what you get for asking for help in Castle Rock, Colorado. Welcome BACK to the 1950's ladies. If you walk into Judge Michael Spear's courtroom by yourself you will be considered "aggressive" and be DEPORTED. Be forewarned.
I have been told that I basically have no recourse-but I am going to do my due part to the good women of Douglas County, Colorado and make sure that the entire case files get sent to the Colorado Bar Association with a formal complaint, the judicial supervisory committee and the local area law schools. I don't even care that financially I be compensated, this just needs to get out there. Hopefully this can be a good example of how women are being treated in the judicial system by certain power hungry and misogynistic men. This is a practice that needs to stop and these men need to be held accountable. read more