answered on Mar 13, 2024
If the Trustee will not respond to you, it would be wise to hire an attorney who can send a demand letter on your behalf. Oregon law requires the Trustee to provide you with annual Trustee Reports (unless you waive them). If you have not been receiving reports from the Trustee there may be a... View More
My partner passed away on July 5th. No will. We lived at his residence which was my home for over 13 years. I went to visit my grandson in Arizona for 6 weeks and when I came back on Jan 30th his 21 year old daughter changed the locks and won’t let me in. I am almost 66 and my whole life... View More
answered on Mar 6, 2024
In your situation, consulting with an estate or probate attorney would be a wise step. These lawyers handle cases involving estates, wills, and disputes after someone's death. They can help navigate the complexities of estate law, especially when there's no will, and ensure that your... View More
My partner passed away on July 5th. No will. We lived at his residence which was my home for over 13 years. I went to visit my grandson in Arizona for 6 weeks and when I came back on Jan 30th his 21 year old daughter changed the locks and won’t let me in. I am almost 66 and my whole life... View More
answered on Mar 5, 2024
I'm very sorry for your loss. You can ask the Post Office to forward your mail. You should be allowed to retrieve your personal property from the house. It's possible that you may be owed repayment for the mortgage payments you have made (less the cost of reasonable monthly rent).... View More
My mother plans to create a Special Needs Trust for my brother to manage any inheritance that he receives from her. This inheritance could exceed $500k. My brother is married, on disability, and a very poor money manager. My mother’s primary goals are to ensure that my brother has a safety net... View More
answered on Feb 1, 2024
Your mother can create a Third Party Special Needs Trust (it can be embedded in her Living Trust or stand-alone). Mom can/should name anyone OTHER than your brother to serve as the trustee for this SNT with him as beneficiary. As an example: you could be trustee for your brother (in charge of... View More
I really don't know where to begin, there is too much to type. My mother passed away a little over 2 years ago. I was told her and her husband had a will then they said they didn't and then they did again. My mother had 4 children and her husband has 3. They have not been around but maybe... View More
answered on Dec 11, 2023
You will need to seek the counsel of a litigator who has experience with probate. The distributions in a probate happen near the end of probate proceedings and if there is a conflict or contest with respect to the will, that is where the experience of a litigator will help. The amount of time... View More
Our mother passed away in Oregon in 2019 and used her power of testamentary in her will to create a new trust for her grandkids from money in her other trusts. It never went through probate as far as I know. Looking online now, it seems to me like maybe it was supposed to go through probate because... View More
answered on Dec 4, 2023
Yes, usually you must probate a Will in order to implement a testamentary trust, however, you bring up several facts that could change this answer (mom's other trusts and the fact that mom died four years ago). I recommend you consult with an experienced probate attorney who can help you sort... View More
answered on Oct 18, 2023
Yes it is allowed and this is quite common. For most families, they generally have a trusted individual or family member serve both roles. As the previous attorney mentioned, please ensure that the will is reviewed by an attorney so that it complies with Oregon law. Additionally, an affidavit... View More
answered on Oct 18, 2023
Yes, a devisee in a Will can also be named as the Personal Representative (Oregon's term for Executor). That same person can even be one of the two witnesses to the Will. In general, it is best for an attorney to draft and supervise the signing of the Will so that the attorney could testify... View More
Dad's wife's will leaves everything to my dad but if he's also deceased then her 3 sons each get 25% of the estate. Does his will supersede his wife's or does he have to follow her will?
answered on Oct 18, 2023
I second Theressa's analysis. It really depends on how the property is titled and that information can be found in the deed recorded with the county.
I will also add that the ownership in the deed supersedes anything listed in the will. As such, if the property is in fact listed as... View More
Dad's wife's will leaves everything to my dad but if he's also deceased then her 3 sons each get 25% of the estate. Does his will supersede his wife's or does he have to follow her will?
answered on Oct 17, 2023
The answer to your question depends on how the home in Oregon is titled. If the Deed shows both of their names as "husband and wife" or "tenants by the entirety" then the house belongs to your father and he has full authority to sell it and keep the proceeds. If it... View More
The heirs are just us two daughters. I found out my younger sister has been stealing assets and has liquidated 3 bank accounts and has every intention of selling everything and keeping all of the money and not probating the estate that includes 2 homes and collectibles and cash. How do I stop her... View More
answered on Sep 19, 2023
Probate is not always necessary. If your deceased mother owned bank accounts or property with your sister, the surviving co-owner often will then own that property automatically. If your sister was named as the payable on death beneficiary of the bank account, probate probably is not be required.... View More
The heirs are just us two daughters. I found out my younger sister has been stealing assets and has liquidated 3 bank accounts and has every intention of selling everything and keeping all of the money and not probating the estate that includes 2 homes and collectibles and cash. How do I stop her... View More
answered on Sep 19, 2023
From the fact pattern that you have described, it does appear that you are entitled to a portion of the estate. If your sister distributes the entire estate to herself, she will be violating intestacy laws and her responsibilities as personal representative if she has been so named. However,... View More
He was paid monthly on a contract with a client that he had negotiated with. When I didn't receive his monthly check, I called and the company told me that they stopped paying him upon his death even though they had received payments from his customer. Are they able to just stop paying upon... View More
answered on Sep 8, 2023
I'm very sorry for your loss. Your instinct to view the contract is a good one. I can't imagine that their "internal decision" will control what happens with the remainder of the contract payments. You may need to file a probate to collect the remainder of the contract. I... View More
The only thing separate is her IRA. We had a will made over 30 years ago.
answered on Aug 29, 2023
The answer to the question of whether or not your wife's estate needs to go through probate depends on which assets she left behind. If the only assets that she left behind are the joint bank accounts and an IRA, then you may not need to go through probate. This is if the bank accounts list... View More
The only thing separate is her IRA. We had a will made over 30 years ago.
answered on Aug 29, 2023
I am sorry for your loss. If she had named a beneficiary on her IRA and all of her other accounts were joint with you then you should not need a probate (assuming she didn't own any property in her name alone). Wait a couple of months after her death and then you can present her Death... View More
The only thing separate is her IRA. We had a will made over 30 years ago.
answered on Aug 29, 2023
In Oregon, if you and your late wife held joint accounts with rights of survivorship, these accounts typically pass directly to you as the surviving account holder. They usually don't go through probate because ownership transfers automatically.
Regarding the IRA, if your late wife... View More
answered on Aug 22, 2023
No. Not unless the second property's legal description was on the first Deed (which is unusual). Most of the time each property has its own Deed.
answered on Aug 22, 2023
Generally speaking, it does not. The deed for real property generally takes preference over any estate planning document in place, such as a will or a trust. For the property which had a joint tenancy, both of the individuals listed would be co-owners. However, if another property had just one... View More
My father who lives in Oregon, said he has set up his trust gifting me his house and property through a life estate. I live in another state, and have to interest in receiving the home. Can I refuse?
answered on Jul 3, 2023
You can disclaim a conveyance. A recorded disclaimer in the property's County will work. But you might want to read the Trust first as it might have other provisions. Also your Father might amend or revoke the Trust. You need to wait until the Life Estate vests before disclaiming it.... View More
My sister and I live with mom and we are all on disability. I don't know what all we need to do for all of this and we can't afford and attorney. We need property taxes to keep from going into foreclosure. Any help will be appreciated.
answered on Jun 30, 2023
Go to this website and follow the steps to help your mother defer her Oregon property taxes:
https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/property/pages/senior-and-disabled-property-tax-deferral-program.aspx
If your mother lives in Multnomah County she may be eligible for free legal... View More
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