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Wisconsin Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: What is the best way to set things up for if I pass before he does?

I purchased a home before I meet my husband. The deed and loan are in my name only. I would like for things to just go to him so he has a home with our children.

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Jul 20, 2020

There are a couple of ways you can go about this. Depending on how the title to the deed reads now, you could pass this to your husband via deed, or via your Will or Trust at death. Doing it in your estate plan (Will or Trust) may make sense, because you still have a mortgage on the property, and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: So my grandfather died and left money to all of his grandchildren; including me. I was a minor at the time.

So my grandfather died and left money to all of his grandchildren; including me. I was a minor at the time.

My mom quicky brushes it away after I talk to her. She says I will get it when I'm 25. (I'm 22 now.) On the court document it says *my brothers name* on behalf of me- waived... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Mar 22, 2020

Hire an attorney right away. I have seen this scam before. After a period of time the statute of limitations expires and you lose your right to claim the money that was stolen by a relative that was supposed to turn over the money to you. You are an adult now and have the right to see all of the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: My mom passed away on January 20, 2020. She has no will, or no one named as her executor of her estate. What should I do

My mom has three children. Oldest is an addict, and have warrants in another state. Second child is currently incarcerated. How can I legally become executor of my mothers estate so I can carry out her wishes?

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Feb 4, 2020

File a petition to be appointed as the personal representative of her estate. Chances are nobody will object and you will be appointed.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: Is it normal to pay yourself a wage for working on the estate?

To save on costs, us 4 siblings are doing the house clean up, painting, items inventory to be sold off. One sibling has been keeping track of the hours worked on the estate (but hasn’t asked us to do the same, but claims she has been keeping track for us) doing all this and wants to pay us all an... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jan 12, 2020

You can do that if you all agree but keep in mind that by doing so you are converting tax free inheritance money into taxable ordinary income.

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: Dad passed with no will. Just received inheritance a month ago from my grandpa. Stepmom says it's all hers.

Stepmother said they were separated not legally though and has a boyfriend how can I get my grandfather's inheritance

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Dec 11, 2019

You really need to discuss your individual circumstances with a local probate attorney. There are too many missing facts to be able to answer your question. An attorney needs to review your dad's will. If your stepmom refuses to let you see it, and if she had not opened probate, then you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: Estate/Probate question. See below

My brother passed away unexpectedly a few days ago. He was in the process of completing a will but did not

complete it. He has two (2) estranged children. I does have assets (condominium/car). He made it known that he wanted me to handle all of his affairs in the event of his death and... View More

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Dec 9, 2019

I am sorry to hear about your brother's passing. Unfortunately, if he did not complete and sign the Will before two disinterested witnesses, it will not be valid in the State of Wisconsin. Based on the facts above, it sounds likely he died "intestate" meaning his assets will pass... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: If i am on probation and have a stayed sentence of 6 years. I pick up 3 new charges and my probation officer lifts hold

Am i still able to be revocated upon sentencing for new charges?

Matthew R Meyer
Matthew R Meyer
answered on Nov 20, 2019

If you're on probation and you're accused of violating your rules of probation, you can be revoked. Generally probation officers will force you to sit in jail on a probation hold while investigating the allegations against you. If that hold is released, that's certainly a good... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: Adult child dies after being raised by father and stepmother. Does the mother still have right to 50% of his estate?

Adult child was 59 years old and had seen his estranged mother 1 time since before he was a teenager. His father and stepmother raised him and he lived with them until he passed. He died and named his estate as the beneficiary of his 401k. He had a named beneficiary for life insurances and... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Nov 20, 2019

If he had no surviving spouse or children, yes, that is quite likely. THAT is why it is important for everyone to have an estate plan. Reason #1 (out of at least a dozen reasons), is to make sure your stuff goes to who you want.

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: Can an estate be divided by children and living spouse through probate if there was no will?

My mother passed away and my father is mentally disabled (he does not have a guardian, us kids have been taking care of him). The only asset she had was the house. The house is in both of their names. I am wondering if it is possible to for the estate to be divided up by us three kids and my father... View More

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answered on Sep 25, 2019

It does depend on how the deed is worded but if a probate is required and her children are all your dad's children too, then your dad will get your mother's entire estate. Then when your dad dies, if he too has no will, the children will inherit everything in equal shares.

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: My mother passed away Nov. 2015. I never received my inheritance can call probate yet

My mother told me that I will will be receiving a parcel land and some cash and the Will

was dated also in 2015

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Jun 19, 2019

If there was a Will, it should have been filed with the probate office at the Courthouse in the County in which your Mother resided when she died. If a probate action was opened, it should be listed online in the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system. You can go to their website and search using... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: what are the risks to using probate rather than a trust in florida?

My great aunt just passed (she lived and drafted her documents in Florida). her attorney is advising using probate rather than the trust. why do this? what's the point of doing a trust then?

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Jun 12, 2019

If your Aunt has a properly set up Trust, then the best way to avoid probate is often to have the assets pass through the Trust. I do not know the specifics of this situation, but it is possible that your Aunt set up the Trust but did not properly fund the trust (meaning she didn't transfer... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: My daughters father died in a accident 3/22. He had no will, lived in Mn & Fl and owns $500k...how do I start probate?

His name is Troy T Gambucci age 46. Died in Az, lived in Mn and Fl. He has 2 properties in Florida in only his name no liens. His mom, Pam Karahalios(Dickerson) age 69 lives in the house in Shakopee, Mn with him. He just closed on a house he owned March 6 and profit of $90k went into his business... View More

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on May 16, 2019

Hello, I am sorry to hear about the passing of your daughter's father. The previous advice you received is correct, if your daughter's father passed away without holding the real estate in Florida and Minnesota in a Trust, then a probate action will likely need to be opened in both states... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: How will you know when you are no longer in Probate ?
Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Apr 22, 2019

Your lawyer should tell you when the probate process has been concluded and the Court has closed the Estate. If you do not have a lawyer, you can check the status of the case online on the Wisconsin Court system website. You just need to know the case number, or the name of the deceased, and the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: My brother and I inherited land when our mother passed away my aunt's own a portion of said land

I asked my aunts to buy us out or were selling our portion there making things difficult although we inherited it legally , 1 aunt is saying it's private property and that we can't sell our portion .

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Apr 22, 2019

You will need to look at the deed to determine how you took title to the land to figure out what to do next. I recommend you pay a real estate lawyer to examine it for you and then lay out your best options in this situation. If you and your brother own an interest in the property, and you hold... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: I received a domiciliary letter as personal rep for my brother's estate. What else is needed to list and sell the house?
Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Apr 1, 2019

If you have received Domiciliary Letters from the Court and have been appointed as Personal Representative for your brother's Estate, then you now have authority under state law to act on behalf of the Estate. This means you can now go about listing the home for sale, and or hiring a realtor... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: How do I file to become a Personal Representative for my deceased Uncle’s assests. He lived in West Allis, WI

He died in February and left no Will. He owned a home and has a checking and money market account, that we have no access to.

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Apr 1, 2019

Hello, I am sorry to hear about your Uncle's passing. If you want to become appointed as Personal Representative of his Estate, you will need to file an Application for Informal Administration, or an Application for Formal Administration to Open the Probate, as well as a Consent to Serve Form,... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Tax Law and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: Who is responsible for real estate property taxes on a Home being held in a testamentary trust for minor children?
Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Mar 27, 2019

You should check the terms of the trust, but usually the trust itself will pay the taxes while the home is being held in trust for the minor children. This could be altered by the terms of the trust, to say someone else must pay, but since the children are minors, it seems likely that the trust was... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: My father is buried in a dbl plot. My mother just passed and was cremated. We have the will with her wishes

Can daughter bury urn herself into the ground?

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Feb 5, 2019

I would check with the person in charge of the Cemetery to see if they have any rules about who is allowed to bury the ashes. Generally, I have had other clients say they were allowed to bury an urn in a burial plot they own. It sounds like your father has a double plot so he should be able to do... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: My mother passed away without a will in Dane Cty, Wisconsin. My sister & I were her only children living in other states

Total value of her personal property approx $500 & a joint checking acct with sister & self ($1500). At time of death she was in skilled nursing facility & enrolled Care Wisconsin (paid monthly amount from only income of SS) & Medicaid. Her personal property could not be used by... View More

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Feb 2, 2019

If you and your sister are your Mom's only children, and she died while unmarried, then you will be her only heirs under the laws of intestate succession. If you need to transfer the Bank Account to you and your sister, there is a simplified process for estates under $50,000 where you can use... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Wisconsin on
Q: I sold home for mother's home as guardian to pay for care, that I was to inherit 50% , do I get a share of other assets

mom inherited $167.000 after being placed in memory care facility. sister was left all assets and 50% of home, do I get nothing?

Thomas B. Burton
Thomas B. Burton
answered on Jan 24, 2019

It is unclear to me from your question whether you and your sister are the only children of your mother. If it is just you and your sister, and your mother was unmarried when she died, then it is likely you and your sister are her only two heirs under the laws of intestacy. If your Mother executed... View More

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