You should speak with an attorney who specializes in probate law in your state. If the estate is being probated then speak with the attorney who is handling the state. See the information in the related question link provided below.
You need to consult with an attorney who can review your grandmother's will. There are different ways a testator can arrange to leave property. The possibility that a beneficiary may predecease the testator should be addressed in the will. If the gift is made per stirpes, the gift passes to the deceased beneficiary's children. If the gift is made per capita, it passes to the siblings of the deceased beneficiary. If the will is silent you need legal advice on how the situation will be addressed by the law in your state.
Your father's estate is responsible for paying the funeral expenses from his assets. The expenses and debts of the estate must be paid before any distribution is made to any of the beneficiaries. Therefore the funeral expenses must be paid before the beneficiary receives her portion from the estate.
only if you were born in the united states
Generally, a person names a beneficiary when they set up a 401K account. The account manager will distribute the proceeds according to that instruction when it receives official notification of the death.
The correct phrase is "beneficiary of." This term is used to refer to someone who receives benefits, advantages, or payments from a specific source, such as a trust or an insurance policy. For example, you might say, "She is the beneficiary of her father's estate." The phrase "beneficiary to" is not commonly used in this context.
That all depends on the provisions of the trust. You need to review the trust document to determine if there is a contingent beneficiary named who will receive the deceased beneficiary's portion. You should ask the trustee if you can have the trust reviewed by your own attorney.
It really depends upon the contents of a will and how the property is titled under the wording of the deed. Generally property held jointly passes directly to the other owners and is not subject to probate action. In a case such as noted, the deceased share of the property will likely be passed automatically to the surviving owners under the state's Joint Tenants With Right of Survivorship (JTWRS) laws.
If the girlfriend is still alive then she can change her beneficiary. If she died and didn't change her beneficiary then you may have a claim if her estate went to your father. You should speak to an attorney. You refer to a "policy holder" in your question as well as an "estate". If the subject is a life insurance policy and your father was the beneficiary but was deceased when the insured died then be aware that the girlfriend probably named a contingent beneficiary on her policy.
The life insurance proceeds are owed to the beneficiary(s), regardless of parental rights.
Your father's maternal grandmother is your great-grandmother.
Custody issues are decided by the courts on the basis of the best interest of the child in question. If the child is likely to be cared for better by the father than by the grandmother, then yes, the father would have a good chance of winning custody.
Generally yes. Unless your father was deceased when your grandmother died and grandmother in her will provided that the share of any of her children who predeceased her would pass to THEIR siblings. You need to obtain a copy of the will from the probate court and seek the advice of an attorney as to your rights and interest.