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The lawyer told me I had to fill out paper work before they would disclose any info about the probate case. The paperwork turned out to be a bond waiver. Do I sign the waiver and how can I find out info on the case and the parties involved
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answered on Sep 8, 2024
You don’t HAVE to sign the bond waiver. If you trust the proposed executor then signing the bond waiver helps the case move along more quickly and cheaply meaning more money left over after expenses for heirs to inherit. But if you do not trust the proposed executor then you should not sign the... View More 
Ally bank says according to OK laws, probate is required but from what I've been told, it's not necessary here in NC. He had no fixed residence- his address on the death cert says "transient", which the bank has a copy of. Ally won't allow me to close out his account, even... View More
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answered on Jun 18, 2024
If the value of the account is less than $50,000 you should be able to collect it using a small estate affidavit. The bank might even have their own form for that. If they don't a probate attorney in Oklahoma can help you with that.
I am administrator. I am responsible for what goes in and out of the bank account.
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answered on Jun 8, 2024
The lawyer is doing that to help keep you out of trouble. It means one less thing you have to worry about. You should take your attorney up on that generous offer.
I myself am seriously thinking about implementing such a requirement in my own practice because too many clients do not want... View More
Do I have rights to have deed changed in my name
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answered on Jun 2, 2024
The answer to your question is it depends on a lot of other things, but the bottom line is a probate attorney can help you with this. You should schedule consultation and be prepared to answer questions about whether he was still married to someone else, whether he had other children besides you,... View More
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answered on Jun 1, 2024
It sounds like the sale occurred first, followed by the death. Accordingly, the capital gains tax will be calculated as of the date of sale. There will be no step in basis as of the subsequent death, because the property was already sold. Presumably the sale generated cash, and that cash is what... View More
My SS retirement income and personal resources make me eligible, but there's also a 30 year old, irrevocable, testamentary, spendthrift trust from my father in which I am the beneficiary, and the trustee has full discretion regarding any disbursements .
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answered on May 28, 2024
As a general rule, the Social Security Administration takes the position that if a trust beneficiary does not have the legal authority to revoke or terminate a third party trust (a trust created by neither the beneficiary nor the beneficiary's spouse) or to direct the use of the trust assets... View More
She is very capable of paying her bills, she pays all her bills herself with no help, she has investments and everything. They are saying she is incapable and already undergone the test, and been appointed a conservator but the hearing is the 28th. I'm not related, and her closest relatives... View More
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answered on May 27, 2024
You can call the court where the case is being heard and ask who has been appointed to serve as attorney ad litem to the respondent, or who has appeared as the respondent's private attorney (this is uncommon but theoretically possible). Then contact that attorney to offer your testimony.
there notirized by personal friend county clerk, tn. however no witness signatures. signed 2018 do i have legal will?
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answered on May 22, 2024
An attorney would need to actually see the wills in order to render an opinion as to validity, and ultimately the probate court decides whether a will is valid, but based upon what you stated, they are most likely not valid. In Tennessee, as in most other states, two witness signatures are... View More
My grandmother passed in September of 2023. My aunt has attempted to get heirs to sign a quit claim deed of affidavit of heirship because the original will attorney left something out exempting heirs on the will when it was signed and notarized. The attorney who originally did this will is now... View More
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answered on May 20, 2024
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is not a do-it-yourself project. There is no quick and easy "form" or technique that I can point you to that you can fill out and file and do yourself. You are going to need to hire a probate litigation attorney to contest the will. Also do... View More
As my grandmother’s POA, If I opened a savings account, solely in my name,
(to be used for her medical expenses/personal care items)
& deposited an inheritance check made out in my grandmother’s name; what happens to the funds remaining in account after she passes?
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answered on May 19, 2024
I would caution you against depositing a check made payable to your grandmother into an account that is in your name. That will look very much like theft or conversion. And that is the case even if you really only do use the money for your grandmother’s benefit. It is very risky for you.... View More
In a valid 'Last Will and Testament' there is two real properties listed to be be inherited each by name as a direct
beneficiaries to each respective property, does this still have to go thru Probate Court since the valid will clearly list each 'real property' with a... View More
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answered on May 16, 2024
The only answers that can be given to your questions are "maybe" and "sort of". There is no avoiding probate court when the decedent had a will that devised real property. The only question is which kind of probate. It might be a very simple court process or it might be a... View More
My 92 year old father is updating his estate planning documents after the passing of my mother. He wants to appoint both myself and my sister as co-attorneys in fact since we are both helping him with his financial and medical affairs. He doesn't want to name one person as primary and the... View More
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answered on May 7, 2024
There is no law that prohibits co-attorneys in fact. However, conventional wisdom is to avoid it because having co-attorneys in fact can become unwieldy, especially if they get sideways with each other. If they must act together and they are unable to work together then the effective result is... View More
Id like to know:
Are Irrevocable trusts legally responsible to pay income taxes on any monetary cash gifts they receive within a single calendar year or is such money gifts the trusts acquire, exempt from any taxation requirements ?
(fyi: In this particular situation the money gifts... View More
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answered on Apr 26, 2024
At the federal level gifts are not taxable to the recipient. The gift giver might owe gift tax but that is highly unlikely to apply to such small amounts. Some states might have lower gift tax exemptions but, again, even those would be unlikely to impact such small gift amounts.
Some of the property and the house is going to be taken by the city to widen the road. How do we make sure we are compensated for the land and house when the city takes it?
One of the heirs doesn’t want any property, does she relinquish her share prior to us getting the title, or does... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2024
The title can be updated using a simple affidavit that is recorded in the land records, but the title will not be marketable until at least one year has elapsed since date of death or the other assets of the decedent
have been probated and the estate was solvent.
If one of the heirs... View More
She's taken her phone, iPad and other devices. I cook my mom food, feed her, give her her medicine, change her, take her to the bathroom, take her to all her appointments. And I use my mom's car(which she gave me me) to take her to her many appointments. And prior to my sister taking all... View More
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answered on Apr 8, 2024
This is a terrible situation, and it saddens me whenever I hear of circumstances like this. You can and should report your sister's behavior to Adult Protective Services. You might also think about filing a police report for theft with respect to any funds or things your sister has stolen... View More
She won’t reply to any emails or messages. I want to enter the property with my key and look at assets and paperwork. Can I enter the house legally. Can the police make me leave?
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answered on Apr 6, 2024
Your question cannot be answered in full for lack of complete information. My guess is that you might still be in the administrative stage of post-death trust administration. As co-trustees, each of you owes a duty to estate, creditors and beneficiaries to manage the trust assets for their benefit,... View More
I have a loan contract that the loaner passed away a few months ago. The person handling the estate just informed me that they are having issues cashing my checks that are made out to the deceased name. Now they want me to write the checks in their name going forward. They did not open a bank... View More
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answered on Apr 3, 2024
It is very perilous for you to do what they are asking! What if they are lying about who the proper heir(s) is/are? You could give them a lot of money and then when the proper heirs come along you have to pay the real heirs all over again. Don't do it!
Keep making the checks payable... View More
upon my death use all the various funds to pay my heirs without her paying gift taxes. Thank you for your time and attention.
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answered on Mar 30, 2024
You are better off not naming any beneficiaries for any of your accounts and allow the executor of your will, after court appointment, to collect them and distribute them according to the provisions of your will. The problem with your proposed strategy is the person you meant to be your executor... View More
My sister forged our dads name on a quitclaim deed, I had filed a complaint on the notary which originally resulted in her favor but this week I got a letter from the secretary of the state saying they found multiple things she did wrong with the investigation and the fact that they don't... View More
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answered on Mar 21, 2024
You need a real estate litigation attorney to file a lawsuit against your sister to have the deed declared void due to forgery. Do not delay. But in the meantime, if you get a whiff of the house going under contract then contact the escrow company and pointedly inform them that there is reason to... View More
She is in asst livg. He uses credit card for her meds etc & 4 himself & checks from her SS. I live diff state. Property val near $1 m. All her cash is gone, for her care. What vehicle to use for sale proceeds ensure safety of $?
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answered on Mar 21, 2024
If your brother is stealing from your mother, you might need to file a petition to have yourself appointed as your mother‘s conservator. Then, as conservator, you can sue your brother for the funds he stole. And, as conservator, you will have the sole right to manage her financial affairs going... View More
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