A member of the Sikh Community will collect a little less than $40,000 from an estate when they prove that they are the closest living relative to a woman named Juanita Geraldine Ghalie. Miss Ghalie whose mother was Hispanic American and whose father was Sikh American died in the mid1980″s and failed to leave a will.

Having no husband or children, brothers or sisters, or living parents the State Law of interstate succession mandates that the uncles and aunts of Ms. Ghalie or their children will inherit. Mr. Chanan Singh Ghalie, her father, was, before his death in the early 1950’s, a member of the Sikh Community.

“I am hoping to find the family to give this money to,” said researcher Garry Tanner, “before the court gives the money to the State Treasurer. When the amount of the estate is less than $60,000 the process is relatively simple, but some proof of kinship will be required.

‘Chanan was born, probably in the Punjab, in 1895, and probably immigrated to the United States about 192324, at that time and for much of his life he operated a farm or nursery in the Loomis Area. Sometime later he moved to Galt where he was living at the time of his death. He married a Hispanic woman named Norma Lopez, from the State of low a, probably around 192425. The child, Juanita, was born in 1926, and lived most of her life in the Sacramento Area.

Research uncovered the name Kirpol Singh Ghalie who died in San Joaquin County a few years after Chanan, He might have been a family member or just from the same part of the Punjab. Apart from this example the surname Ghalie is rarely found in the State of California. Most of the closest variants of the name Ghalie, Ghaly and Ghalie, are Middle Eastern. Nevertheless, a person having a surname variant of Ghalie, in the Sikh Community is still a possibility.

“If you are the family member or if you are unsure if you might be, “remarked Mr. Tanner, “contact me to discuss the matter. Contact me even if you think that you just

have a piece of information.” Mr. Tanncr’s company, American Asset Recovery, has conducted all the research and will handle the negotiations for the family with the State. Contact him at 2228 South E] Camino Real. Suite 214. San Marco. CA 944031853. Please write first. Mr. Tanner will make appointments to visit the Stockton area to meet with any interested parties soon thereafter.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 3, 1995