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Q: Are TOD stocks part of my brother's or mother's estate in Maryland?
My sister is the administrator of my brother's estate. My mother passed away in 2024, leaving her stocks to my brother as Transfer on Death (TOD) assets. However, my brother passed away in 2025 without transferring the stocks into his name. My sister insists that these stocks belong to our... View More 
Richard Sternberg
answered on Oct 11, 2026
answered on Oct 11, 2026
Assuming everything is completed correctly, stock or liquid assets transferred by a Pay on Death clause pass outside of the probate estate as soon as the named beneficiary or their representative presents proof of the title owner's death. So, if your sister, as your brother's... View More
Q: How to address a lien placed by bail bond on inherited house in CA?
My father recently passed away, and his home, which has two other owners—my sister and I—was signed over to a bail bond company in 2023. He signed the agreement alone, and my sister and I did not sign any documents related to the bail bond. As one of the owners, what steps should we take to... View More
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
The first thing to pull is the recorded document itself. Get a copy from the county recorder's office (most counties let you search online by your father's name) and read two things: what exactly he signed in 2023, and how the three of you held title on the deed before that.
Title... View More
Q: Can we hold the seller or inspector liable for undisclosed house issues?
I am a first-time homeowner who bought a house in Texas just 2 years ago. We are facing major problems with the house, including plumbing and foundation issues, and the AC unit broke within the first week of moving in. The inspection report did not identify these problems, nor were they disclosed... View More
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
Possibly, but the clock is the first thing I would look at. In Texas, DTPA and negligence claims generally carry a two year limitations period that runs from when you discovered, or reasonably should have discovered, the problem. The AC failed in your first week, so any claim tied to it may be at... View More
Q: How to obtain CCTV footage from a bank after being robbed in California?
I was robbed in front of a bank in California, and the incident should have been captured by their CCTV cameras, which I've confirmed are working properly. I have already filed a police report regarding the robbery. How do I go about obtaining the CCTV footage from the bank? I've... View More
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
The footage is the real issue, and the clock on it is shorter than most people expect. Many bank systems record over themselves in 30 to 90 days, sometimes less for exterior cameras. Treat this as urgent.
Banks almost never hand surveillance video to a private customer or passerby, even a... View More
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Q: How to remove a lien from a vehicle totaled in a DUI accident?
I'm trying to remove a lien from my vehicle, which was totaled in an accident where the driver, unfortunately, received a DUI. As a result, the insurance company denied the claim, and the vehicle now needs to be removed from a property. What steps can I take to address the lien and proceed... View More
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Oct 11, 2026
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 11, 2026
Two separate problems are tangled together here: the lien and the insurance denial. Fixing the second one often fixes the first.
Start with the lien. A lien on a car title is usually the lender's security for the loan. It does not go away because the car is totaled. The lender releases... View More
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