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Alabama Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: Executor of a living will how long does he have to get it settled and can he stop siblings from getting information from
Thad A. Davis
Thad A. Davis
answered on Jul 25, 2023

I'm sorry that you're having an issue. I'm not sure I understand the question that you're asking so I'm going to answer as I understand it. I think you're asking how long does an executor of a will have to settle an estate and can the executor stop the other... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: If you are on your single parents bank accounts in Alabama and they pass away, do you have control of their estate?
Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jul 9, 2023

Your statement of facts does not contain enough information to answer your question.

When you say you are "on" your parent's bank accounts, exactly what do you mean by "on"?

Are you a tenant in common? Joint tenant with right of survivorship? Attorney in...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: If you are on your single parents bank accounts in Alabama and they pass away, do you have control of their estate?
James Blount Griffin
James Blount Griffin
answered on Jul 10, 2023

Joint bank accounts often, but not always, have a "right of survivorship" to the account holder who survives the other. The terms of the account are in that envelope full of small print that you get when you open an account. The ownership of a bank account is often a separate issue from... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Alabama on
Q: Hello My mother-in-law wanted her son to have her home. She passed away and the house is in my husband's name at the

Tuscaloosa Court House but she did not redeed it to him. There is only one sibling left and now she wants to sell the house, what can I do as the widow of the son. Does the house belong to me?

James Blount Griffin
James Blount Griffin
answered on Jul 4, 2023

This is a complex question. A stated intent is not enforceable. In probate and real estate law, written and notarized documents, i.e., deeds and wills, rule.

If the person whose name is on the deed as owner of the property died without a will, then the property is ruled by the laws of...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Alabama on
Q: What tax/fees/costs are associated with inheriting a piece of property? It's less than 10 million and in AL.

My mom thinks that she has to do some weird legal workaround so that when we inherit her property we won't have to lose a ton of money on inheritance. I've researched as much as I can but she's not convinced. I've looked at AL and federal tax laws and can't find anything... View More

James Blount Griffin
James Blount Griffin
answered on Jul 4, 2023

I will complete my answer by saying the costs and fees of inheriting property would include a good accountant, because substantial or complex property requires excellent accounting. In most cases, there would be no substantial transfer tax on inherited real estate when you record a deed in the... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Alabama on
Q: What tax/fees/costs are associated with inheriting a piece of property? It's less than 10 million and in AL.

My mom thinks that she has to do some weird legal workaround so that when we inherit her property we won't have to lose a ton of money on inheritance. I've researched as much as I can but she's not convinced. I've looked at AL and federal tax laws and can't find anything... View More

James Blount Griffin
James Blount Griffin
answered on Jul 4, 2023

Your mother may be worried about inheritance taxes, which are taxes on what you inherit. Fortunately, there are no federal inheritance taxes, and, just as well, there are no Alabama inheritance taxes. She will not pay taxes on what she inherits (unless, perhaps, she moves quickly to New Jersey,... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Real Estate Law, Agricultural Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: Land given to me but not left in a will was sold off. Do I have rights to it since I've kept it up as mine since 2009?

Land has been in my family since the 60's, my grandmother was killed in 2019 and had given me a small section of land adjoining mine back in 2009, but she never updated her will to include it as said. Her house and property was sold off in 2021. Now my yard with my kids playset, etc which... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 2, 2023

If your grandmother gave you a piece of land, even if it was not included in her will, then legally you would have a claim to that land. However, if the property was sold without your knowledge or consent, you may need to take legal action to assert your rights to the property.

You may want...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: My husband just died and left his entire $1,000,000 life insurance policy to his sister. We have minor children.

He told me I was beneficiary. Life insurance policy was paid for 12 years from our joint account. Married over 17 years. 2 minor children. Do I have cause to contest this?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Feb 4, 2023

An Alabama attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband and the concealment of the terms of the policy. This is posted under Bad Faith, but attorneys who practice in the Probate and Estate Planning categories might be a better... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: My dad died in October. He had his property and assets in a trust for me and my 2 sisters. How do we resolve a disagree

Disagreement on the division of the property?

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Jan 31, 2023

The terms of the trust itself will address the division of the property and the Trustee is the individual or entity in charge of carrying out those wishes. Those facts will address how the situation may be resolved.

However, you may want to consider some form of alternative dispute...
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1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law and Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: If I bought out a small business then the previous owner dies. Who owns the merchandise
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Apr 12, 2024

An Alabama attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for four weeks. It would depend on the terms of your agreement. Good luck

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: Can I transfer a deed from my name to an llc?

I’m in the process of buying a rental property but I don’t have an llc set up. Can I transfer my property?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 20, 2024

Yes, once the LLC is properly set up. Remember it is supposed to be limited liability, so use a State LLC law that has some protection. An attorney needs to draft the deed with the correct language so it can be easily transferred from the LLC later.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Alabama on
Q: Is securing home ownership insurance part of the financial process ? Can I get financing approved without it?

The home I inherited has a debt on it and the house is insured by the estate. Once the estate closes, is it too late to get homeowners insurance or do I need to do that now? I can work on financing for the house but what does that mean for the current insurance? Would I need insurance in my name ?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 6, 2024

Most any lender will include property casualty insurance as a term of the Deed of Trust. So you will not get financed or will later be foreclosed upon, if you do not obtain home insurance.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Alabama on
Q: Can a mortgage be completely erased if there was no insurance or any other money left behind to take care of it?

If a deceased person left a home with a debt to a beneficiary, regardless of married to them then or not, can or a will a mortgage company erase the debt? The surviving spouse wasn’t on the deed or mortgage. Only the deceased person.

If the surviving spouse gets the deed to the home put... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jan 27, 2024

The lender’s mortgage survives the death of the borrower. If not paid the lender may foreclose and take the house.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Alabama on
Q: I LIVE IN AL, MY WIFE PASSED IN AUGUST2023 THERE WAS NO WILL AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR MY WIFE'S PERSONAL DEBT.

MY NAME IS NOT ON ANY OF DEBT SHE CREATED. TWO OF THE DEBTS ARE CREDIT CARDS AND THE OTHER IS A PERSONAL LOAN. THE ONLY THING WE SHARED WAS A BANK ACCOUNT, HER NAME HAS BEE REMOVED, AND OTHER THING IS THE DEED TO OUR HOME WHICH HAS NO MORTGAGE.

Mr. James Parrish Coleman
Mr. James Parrish Coleman
answered on Jan 4, 2024

NO

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: My mother died without a will but with hospice bill. I do not want inheritance rights to home. How do I disclaim?

Hospice bill exceeds home value. My brother passed last month. Leaving me and sister. I did not keep close ties to anyone once I left for military service. I want nothing to do with property. How do I disclaim in writing? What facts do I state ? My Sister can have my share.

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jul 26, 2023

Hospice bills are not subject to estate recovery, but Medicaid bills are. Make sure you understand exactly which program was paying for her care.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: Is there a time frame that an estate has to pay or object to a claim filed in Alabama?
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Jun 30, 2023

Under Alabama's Probate Code, claimants generally have six months from the date of the first publication of notice to creditors to file their claims against an estate.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Alabama on
Q: My father in law just passed away. He set it up to where on his death his 1.5 acres with his house and another

Unattached 50 acres were automatically deeded to my husband and his sister. He had a mortgage. The sister says she wants nothing to do with the house or land so my husband asked her to sign a quit claim deed so that the bank will let him redo the mortgage and pay it off. She says that it has to go... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 1, 2023

Your statements do not make sense. However a possible solution is have an AL attorney search the title, and draft a Quit Claim Deed for the one or two tracts to be conveyed from the Sister to your Husband. Sister would not have any financial or legal obligations.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Alabama on
Q: Does next of kin inherit deceased mothers debt

My husbands mom is in an Alabama nursing home and is up to her teeth in debt. Will we inherit that debt?

Kristine Jones
Kristine Jones
answered on Apr 5, 2023

Hello. Thank you for your question. No. Debts do not survive after the person who created the debt passes. Best wishes to you and your family.

2 Answers | Asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts, Bankruptcy and Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: Joint ownership of purchased property pre inheritance by step mom 3-4 yrs later made own mortgage contract only 2 signed

Step mother now pushing breach of contract also we are in bankruptcy.

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Mar 29, 2023

Step mother needs to be added as a creditor in bankruptcy to stop her from taking any action.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: I was named in my grandfather's will and his wife is taking it to probate court why would I have to sign something
John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Mar 20, 2023

Because you are named in your grandfather's will.

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