Hello everyone i am looking for some advice for how to tackle this unfortunate situation ive been placed in.
In may my father passed away in Jakarta. He was a Scottish/British national, who had 4 kids. Me and my 3 sisters. Quick summary of our relationship was that he wasn't the greatest father, he left my Norwegian mother 13 years ago after a 35 year long marriage. Its was a very messy breakup which caused me and my dad to not really talk for 11 years. (mostly him ignoring me). He financially and mentally destroyed my mother which whom i grew up with in Norway. (Lots of affairs and loans in her name that he never paid, etc). 2 years ago i found out he had cancer. Enough time had passed to the point where he stopped ignoring me and we had some very small chats. Mostly about his health and maybe even seeing each other again. The cancer took him before we ever got that far. He died 15 of may this year.
He remarried a Indonesian woman in 2015. Who i have never met. He lived in Indonesia for 7 years. When he died, we found out that his spouse and her community had buried him a few hours after his death. Without informing any of his children this was done. And none of his kids found out until 2 days after the burial. Even my older sisters that had a relationship with him. One of them being very close with him. This was done in this way because he had converted to being Muslim. We didn't know that was the case until after his death as my sister who was close to him never saw him pray, he drank alcohol regularly, ate pork and didn't really practice Islam in any way that we saw. I personally believe that his conversion was only for marriage reasons. But i dont really know.
Regardless, now that so much time has passed since his death ive been trying to reach out to his Indonesian wife about how to deal with inheritance. I dont have a clear picture of what was left behind. I only know that he has 3 estates in Jakarta, that was bought with his inheritance from my grandmother, and his high paying job. (Helicopter mechanic in Qatar). Only problem is, is that these estates are most likely under her name, as he couldn't own property in Indonesia.
I last heard from his spouse on whatsapp in June. when i started asking about these things. She told me that she is grieving to much and cannot do anything. I understood that and proceeded to just want some reassurance that she will be cooperative in settling this when she is ready. She never answered. Since then ive tried multiple messages to her, tried calling her. My sisters have also tried reaching out but she has cut contact with all of us. She wont even help us get his death certificate. Which i have to send to the Norwegian government. as he worked here for 35 years.
I dont know what to do. My uncle claims my father didn't have any money left. As he lost health insurance from his job in December last year. And paid for cancer treatment himself. He also believes that the estates have mortgages on them. And that he owed lots of people money. After talking to a lawyer they quoted me between 5000-7000usd to find out information. Which i cant afford if the case is true that there is nothing there.
What should i do? There seems to be 3 different laws this could fall under but i have no clue. If it would be done through a Muslim court, Indonesian court or a British court. I just want to know if there is any inheritance at all. And get his death certificate. I dont want to take everything from his spouse as she is innocent in my fathers actions. But her ignoring all of his kids after forcing a muslim burial, is just not right. He did not write a will which has made this so complicated.
I really appreciate any advice i could get on this. As im halfway across the world and dont know anything about Indonesia
