Thanks for your response. There was never an estate tax return filed at the time of his death since we were not aware he died, and we were the only heirs. There were no other relatives alive at the date of death. The dividend income was not substantial, but it did purchase stocks over a long time. I do have the records of when the dividends were issued and how many shares were purchased when and at what price.
Not sure I was clear. This account was going to escheatment. That is what triggered the firm to contact my brother and me. So we, not the estate (since there never was a will or probate) incurred the expense as well as legal fees that established us through court order after investigation that we were the only heirs.
