Get free answers to your legal questions from lawyers in your area.
His daughter has already taking things from his house and said because they didn't talk for 5 years or more she said she is taking all his things to sell or bring to Florida. This includes his motorcycle he was leaving for his grandson. How do I stop this from happening
answered on Jan 3, 2023
That is a real bummer, but when someone dies without a will, then state law determines who inherits. If your friend died unmarried but with one or more living children, typically the children inherit. Even though the daughter might not be strictly following the proper legal process, chances are... View More
This is for an unmarried couple who own a home together. Will the heirs of the deceased have any rights to the home?
answered on Jan 1, 2023
It means that if one of the tenants in common passes, the surviving tenant in common will become the sole owner of the home by operation of the survivorship interest without having to go through probate or any other kind of legal process. The heirs of the deceased would have no claim to the home.... View More
Home insurance check made to my late father. He passed while in process of claim. I already paid deposit for fix of home and waiting for this check. Went and had small affidavits filled out but bank is indicating it’s insurance problem and when sent to insurance they say check is issued it’s... View More
answered on Dec 28, 2022
If you have presented a proper small estate affidavit to the insurance company and you have returned the check to them with the small estate affidavit, the insurance company is obligated to replace the check with a new one made payable to the person who is entitled to the funds according to the... View More
answered on Dec 14, 2022
Yes you are entitled to that information. Look in the probate court files for interim and final accountings. If there are none, hire an attorney to help you remove and replace the executor.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE TRUSTEE WILL BE IN PRISON FOR NEXT 25 YEARS, AND FAMILY MEMBER IS TRYING TO WHATS BEST FOR ALL BY SELLING PROPERTY BEFOR HOUSE IS SOLD FOR BACK TAXES SO FAMILY CAN PAY TAXES AND SPLIT WHAT IS LEFT AFTER .
answered on Dec 14, 2022
POA from trustee will not work because fiduciary duties are not delegable. Look at the trust instrument for provisions will respect to removal of incapacitated trustees, trustee resignation, trustee succession, and appointment of successor trustees. If that doesn’t work then you might have to go... View More
I am the executor of the my father's estate. My brother is incarcerated and would like me to give his inheritance money to his Power of attorney, who is a friend and business partner. Is this legal or should I put it in a trust or account until he is released? Also, if this is permitted,... View More
answered on Dec 4, 2022
A power of attorney is a document, a stack of papers, so, no, you would never want to distribute to a power of attorney because that is not a natural person or entity; it is not capable of receiving an inheritance. If you mean the person designated in the power of attorney, usually called an agent... View More
My ex has terminal cancer her elderly parents are executors, kids wont be of age for 9 years. (age 25)
answered on Nov 28, 2022
Trusts do not have executors, so you probably meant to ask who will be the successor trustee if the named trustee has passed. The answer is whomever is named as the successor trustee in the trust instrument. If no successor is named, then a petition will need to be filed with the court to have... View More
She had no transport/way to get food etc. as I was not able at the time to do for her-I feel he took advantage and he had unreal financial debt at the time. what can I do? My younger brother did this to her
answered on Nov 28, 2022
You can hire an attorney to contest the will on the basis of lack of capacity or undue influence or both. Do not delay because there are deadlines for will contests. If you miss a deadline you will lose your right to ever contest the will.
answered on Nov 17, 2022
Either a new will or a codicil will work. Conventional wisdom is a new will is better so that the codicil can't be separated from it and "disappeared" and for other reasons. Remember to destroy the old will and all copies of it after the new will is done, and also remember to... View More
Or anything unless to start drama. They say I have to have my home sold and divided equally with them as he and I had 8 children we adopted plus 3 of ours together I have paid every payment tax and insurance on the house the last 10 years. Alone and still owe 8 more years on it
answered on Nov 15, 2022
As a general rule, you do not have to leave anything to anybody in your will if you don't want to, unless you have entered into some kind of contract that says otherwise (some people do). But that is not the end of the inquiry. The question is whether you own the house 100% solely in your... View More
There is a mortgage on the home and both are on it but my mother wants to leave her half of the interest and equity to me. Is this possible with a mortgage debt still on the home?
answered on Nov 7, 2022
Yes, your mother can leave her half to you even if the home has a mortgage on it. If she does that, then after she passes you and your brother will need to keep making the mortgage payments on the house lest the bank foreclose. In the end, you and your brother will probably end up selling the... View More
answered on Nov 2, 2022
You will receive your inheritance a lot faster if you do and the estate will incur less expense if you do, which translates into more inheritance for you. If you have no reason to suspect wrongdoing on the part of the executor, then I would normally say yes. But if you suspect wrongdoing, then... View More
answered on Oct 28, 2022
This can be accomplished by either amending or restating the trust, with restatement being more common for other reasons.
Bank account is well under $50,000. How can the bank refuse to accept the will and give me the bank account? I am the only person listed in his will to inherit everything he owned. I am/was a close friend for 30 years. We were never married and never had any children together or owned anything... View More
answered on Oct 21, 2022
The bank does not have to accept any will, handwritten or notarized or witnessed or whatever. It is the probate court that decides if a will is valid. You probably need to hire a probate attorney to help you with this. If the estate truly is small, a probate attorney can help you prepare a small... 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
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
Two years before he passed, he and my grandmother filed wills in France giving each portion of the apartment to me (apartment). How does this get handled in the US and in France?
answered on May 5, 2024
You are going to need two probate attorneys, one in California for the US-based properties and one in France for the apartment in France.
She is acting crazy yelling out the window, sitting on neighbors porches, leaves her front door wide open and yells at people who park in front of her house. She has been hospitalized many times has spent time at behavioral health facilities. She just keeps getting released to
Home. She... View More
answered on Apr 20, 2024
Look for an attorney to help you file a petition for guardianship or conservatorship.
There wasn't any percentages given as to the division of account. Who is entitled to the money in the account?
answered on Apr 12, 2024
A beneficiary designation like the one you described is usually interpreted as meaning equal shares.
Me and our children are the heirs. What can I do she won't speak with me.
answered on Apr 10, 2024
Hire a probate attorney. Get yourself appointed as executor or personal representative. Then as executor or PR sue her for the return of items stolen from the estate.
answered on Mar 16, 2024
I hesitate to recommend doing that, because it will make it extremely difficult for the executor to obtain a federal taxpayer ID number for the estate, which is an essential prerequisite to opening an estate bank account.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.