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Questions Answered by Jack T. Carney
1 Answer | Asked in Health Care Law and Elder Law for Alabama on
Q: Is there a way around Medicare’s five year look back policy?

The house is under my grandma’s name, with my dad as beneficiary for four years. With her health declining fast due to dementia, we need to get her into a nursing home asap. Is there a way to prevent Medicare from taking the house?

My dad and I moved in with her to be her caregivers... View More

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Dec 30, 2023

I cannot give you a specific recommendation, as these types of elder law matters are highly fact specific. However, you might want to look into the caregiver child exemption. Normally you cannot transfer the home within 5 years of the application for Medicaid benefits or it will result in a... 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 Probate for Alabama on
Q: Hello, my father was killed, He had a wife and 3 children. In this case, how is the estate usually divided?

As of now we haven't found a will. Might I also add that 2 of us are grown and from a previous marriage. The other child is also grown but lived in the house with my father and stepmother.

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Jul 6, 2022

I’m sorry for your loss. If your father had no Will, then the estate passes by the laws of intestacy. Those laws provide that one half of the estate passes to his spouse and the other half passes to his children.

The estate does not include assets that pass automatically, such as joint...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Alabama on
Q: When my mom an dad died he had 3 wills all hand written none by a attorney none noterized one in 2017 one in 2019 an one

in 2020 which one of the wills is supposed to be filled there are three siblings an there is a disagreement on which will should be filled

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Feb 28, 2022

I am sorry about your family's loss. I am happy to hear that your father at least attempted to write a Will. Most people do not make that effort and it can lead to problems after death.

In order to be a valid Will in Alabama the document must be signed, dated and witnessed by two...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: My husbands will was notorized but not witnessed. Is it still legal? We live in Alabama
Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Feb 21, 2022

If your husband was a resident of Alabama at the time he signed the Will, then to be valid it must be witnessed by two people. The notary could certainly serve as one of those witnesses, but more than one witness is required.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law for Alabama on
Q: How do you name two agents on a Durable Power of Attorney?
Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on May 14, 2021

The grantor of the power can appoint one or more agents to serve by naming them in the document. It is important to note whether the power is "joint" (meaning all agents must agree) or "joint and several" (meaning any agent can act without consent of the other). In practice I do... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Alabama on
Q: How does my family deal with my grandmother's house..she died with no will and 3 adult children...

One adult child is currently living there, we are in Al and not familiar if she can get the house in her name if the 2 siblings don't contest it

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Feb 19, 2021

When a person dies without a Will, their assets pass to their heirs at law. In a situation where a single individual died with three children and left only a home, then that home passes in equal shares to the three children. After two years the home "vests" in the heirs and good title... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Georgia on
Q: I am a beneficiary of my grandfathers trust. My aunt is the trustee and has not given me any information after 6 months.

Is there a way to legally obtain the information (details) of the trust?

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Jan 5, 2021

You do have rights as the beneficiary of a trust. The trust is governed by the laws of its "situs" (that basically means the domicile of the trust). Assuming it is Georgia, one of the code sections addressing your ability to obtain information is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: My husband purchased our home 4 months before we married Do I inherit our home if he dies?

Or do we need to do legal paperwork? Can I simply be added to the deed?

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Oct 12, 2020

These situations can cause some unintended consequences in the event of an untimely death. I do not have enough facts to provide you specific advice, but I infer that your marriage may be later in life or even a second marriage. In those cases, if someone dies without a Will, the law in Alabama... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: Can a clause be written into a will that if one of the heirs contests the will they get nothing?
Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Aug 24, 2020

Yes. I usually tell clients that a "no contest" or "in terrorem" clause is enforceable in Alabama, however, courts will strictly construe these clauses, meaning that the court will almost look for a reason not to enforce the clause if possible. Nonetheless, these clauses can... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Civil Litigation and Probate for Alabama on
Q: What can I do when executor is running up expenses?

My aunt opened probate on my dad estate, he had no will in Alabama. Now she is running up expenses, such as she purchased a $4000+ headstone from the estate and had a $10K funeral. All was paid from my dad's bank acct. He wanted to a military burial. Probate was open without my brother or I... View More

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Aug 14, 2020

I am sorry for your loss. You can always hire an attorney to file a petition to remove the Administrator and seek to recoup expenses. However, when an Administrator closes an estate he or she must get the consent of the heirs. If the heirs refuse to consent, the probate court will hold a final... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: A grandfather died intestate and left an estate vested to his kids who did not probate it and also died intestate.

Does Alabama intestate code provides that the grandchildren will take equal of their grandfather's estate?

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Aug 14, 2020

As with most legal questions, there is a need for some additional facts before someone could give you a firm answer (e.g., time of death, type of property). In general, if a grandparent died intestate and his children survived him by more than five days, their share of his estate became a part of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: Need a lawyer to open safety bank dep. Box for deceased mother not afford 2000 retainer. Can you make referral thank you

Thousand Dollars retainer. Is there a lawyer in mobile who can just get a court order to have box opened for a fee. Thank you

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Jun 18, 2020

I am not sure if she would be able to help, but I would recommend Stephanie Booth. Her e-mail address is sbooth@gcelderlaw.com

Good luck!

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: When someone gives away an item years before his passing; is the item subject to the deceased's previous will?

My question is about three, irreplaceable heirloom items with no monetary value, but which my father personally entrusted to me because of their immense sentimental value. When he gave them to me (several years before he passed away); my father was emphatic about his determination for me to have... View More

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Jun 4, 2020

I can provide some general information about the treatment of specific devises in a Will. You will of course need to speak with an attorney to discuss the specific application of the law to your situation (as some additional facts would be helpful in providing a final answer). First, you are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Alabama on
Q: My mother and her husband were involved in a class action lawsuit over Chinese sheetrock. The lawsuit dated back 7 yrs+

my mother's husband died 7 years ago. This past month they finally settled and my mom received her settlement check. It's made out to her and her dead husband. So the bank won't let her deposit it. He wrote a will but it was never notarized. The bank told her to go to probate office... View More

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on May 6, 2020

In these situations his estate is entitled to the proceeds as well, therefore the bank needs a representative of his estate to sign off on the check. The general way to get a representative of an estate is to petition the local probate court to be named as the Executor (if there is a Will) or as... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Estate Planning for Alabama on
Q: I am my brother's legal guardian. He relies on Medicare to pay his nursing home. He was omitted from Dad's will.

If he receives any money Medicare will take his benefits away. Dad died without taking brother's name off insurance as beneficiary. I can disclaim his insurance benefit, but what happens to his benefit if I do? How long is any disclaimer in effect? What can I do to prevent Medicare from... View More

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Mar 16, 2020

If your brother is on Medicaid in Alabama the best solution may be a special needs trust. He could keep the assets and they would be available through a Trustee for his benefit. As the trust is a special needs trust, he would not lose government benefits. As with most legal cases, so much... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Alabama on
Q: Executor resignation

My wife is named as an executor in her late mother's will. She has done nothing in an executor capacity since her mother's death (and no one else has either) and she wants to resign as executor. Is there a form you can prepare to do this and how much would it cost?

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Feb 19, 2020

An attorney would need some more information and clarification before being able to provide you with a firm answer For example, it depends on whether the estate has been opened. If opened, then she would need to file a resignation with the court and a settlement for her time as executor (which... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Elder Law for Alabama on
Q: In Alabama, what does the DR stand for in Case number DR2019-77
Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Jan 20, 2020

It stands for "Domestic Relations," indicating that the case is in the Domestic Relations (i.e., Divorce) section of the Circuit Court.

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Alabama on
Q: Both my parents passed away this year. In their will I am to inherited their home which has a $40,000.00 mortgage.

I moved out of my home to care for them in 2015. I continue to live in the house while the will is being probated. I want to know who pays the mortgage, insurance, home owners association fee, lawn care, termite bond, pest control, and utility bill during this time. I live in Alabama. Thank... View More

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Dec 16, 2019

I am sorry for your losses. It is hard to give a specific answer that you can rely upon, as some additional information is necessary. However, in general the estate will be responsible for paying for those expenses. If you continue to live in the home, the estate (through the Executor) may... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Probate for Alabama on
Q: My mom died a long time ago and willed everything to me & my brother. We didn't probate her will but paid all bills.

We now need to sell some of the inherited land that is still in Mom's name. How do we go about probating the will after so very long?

Jack T. Carney
Jack T. Carney
answered on Dec 16, 2019

I agree with Nina's answer. I want to also add that a Will must be probated within 5 years of the date of death. If it has been longer than 5 years, you can still transfer title to real property without a Will by using "heirship affidavits." A local real estate attorney (closing... View More

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