Scenario is settling affairs of second to die spouse with A/B trust in place along with pour-over will, and personal property transfer document. First settlor died 15 years ago, second settlor is still alive.
Irrevocable portion of trust currently contains properly titled real property and... View More 
answered on Dec 21, 2022
It sounds like you are on the right track, based on what information you provided in your question. The decision whether probate is necessary usually hinges on whether there are any assets which require probate administration. Opening a probate estate is sometimes done even if there are not assets,... View More
They never shared a marital home he lived with my mother the entire time. She chose to live with her ex-husband and their two youngest children. Unfortunately, my nephew died in the hospital not because of the treatment the doctors were giving him, but because of his lifestyle the treatments... View More
answered on Nov 21, 2022
Certain people have the right to participate in probate court proceedings for a decedent estate. These people are called "interested persons" as defined by Michigan law. For example, a deceased person's spouse is an interested person. If the deceased person had any surviving... View More
It would be for deceased person's final expenses (way less than the cost of an "average" funeral) paid out of jointly owned checking account with the personal rep having right of survivorship and proven food expense for last three years of deceased person's life paid for by the... View More
answered on Jul 18, 2023
The problem the personal representative has is that where someone provides money, goods, or services to another family member, those things are presumed to be gifts, unless there is some sort of legal agreement between them that those things are not just being provided gratis. So if there is no... View More
I'm not able to get approved for a house loan so my ex husband family will put it in their name. I'm responsible for all repairs and mortgage and down payment. But they don't want me on the deed how can I protect my self in case they try to kick me out. He said once the house is paid... View More
answered on May 4, 2023
Why not have a lawyer draw up a lease with option to buy, or a land contract? Either of those might work in your situation.
4 children all in agreement no other assets
answered on Feb 22, 2023
I agree with Mr. Zichi. In the situation you describe you may be able to go to the Secretary of State and use Form TR-29, Certification from Heir to a Vehicle. But it would be wise to do a brief consult with a local probate attorney just to be sure you aren't missing anything.
answered on Jan 26, 2023
I agree with Mr. Zichi, who has provided you good common sense advice. Please reach out to an attorney for help - this is not a do it yourself task.
Father passed away and us 3 siblings had an estate lawyer and were dealing with things. Older sibling got nasty and greedy and was able to take our original estate lawyer and come at us. We now have our own lawyer to represent our interests, but we are worried that the older sibling is abusing time... View More
answered on Oct 12, 2022
First, you have your own lawyer - why not ask him or her this question?
Second, your personal liability to the attorney for attorney fees is a matter of contract. It depends on whether you and the brother signed a retainer agreement with the attorney agreeing to pay the attorney's... View More
Does that legally mean it’s just her money or would that money have to go into an estate and be split
answered on Oct 6, 2022
Bank accounts that have a payable on death beneficiary designation on them pass outside of probate. That means if your father-in-law named someone as a beneficiary to his bank account, the money belongs to that person, and that person alone, upon your father-in-law's death. That person (she?)... View More
I have asked to see them but they have refused to show the documents to me
answered on Sep 30, 2022
Your brother and sister have no obligation to share your mother's power of attorney or your mother's trust with you in a strict legal sense. If your mother is living, then it is likely the trust is revocable and she is the only present beneficiary of the trust, and no one else is entitled... View More
My mother is 97yo. She has no property that she owns and no car. She is in hospice and close to death. Her assets include only 3 POD CDs, a checking account (current values < $50,000 for monthly recurring bills; one credit card with a balance of < $100; a Savings account of just over $1,000;... View More
answered on Sep 22, 2022
Respectfully, I disagree with my colleague's answer above. The trustee of a trust has a duty to publish notice to creditors after death of the grantor. See MCL 700.7608.
700.7608 Duty of trustee to give notice.
Sec. 7608.
If there is no personal representative of the... View More
The estate has been completed and payments given to everyone. His original taxes for 2022 have been filed and are kept with the rest of his records in a safe. Do I legally have to give her a copy?
answered on Sep 7, 2022
Most likely yes. You have a duty to act in the best interests of the estate and heirs and devisees. You also have a duty to provide reasonable information about the estate and estate property to the heirs and devisees of the estate, especially information pertaining to the financial condition of... View More
daughter are on warranty deed in MI. No mention of survivorship on warranty deed. Does Mom's portion need probate still? Mom's spouse willing to sign Quit Claim deed to daughter on the said deed. If probate needed, can you file in TX & MI, can spouse still sign Quit Claim to... View More
answered on Aug 31, 2022
Based on the information given in your question, it sounds as if the deed to mom and daughter conveyed the property to them as tenants in common. If this is the case, then some type of Michigan probate procedure will need to be used to transfer mom's interest. Your best bet is to contact a... View More
My brother has recently passed away he never put the deed in his name so is it part of his estate or would it be my mother's estate?
answered on Aug 1, 2022
It's unclear from the question whether your brother was a remainderman on a lady bird deed (he only became owner when your mother passed) or whether your brother was a joint tenant with your mother, who had right of survivorship. Either way, if your brother survived your mother, the house... View More
The law office that took care of my father’s will will not provide a copy of any of the children listed. He said I needed to contact the lawyer of the co-representative of the estate that had nothing to do with drawing it up
answered on Jul 27, 2022
The directions given to you by the drafting attorney are correct. When an attorney drafts estate plan documents for a client, the attorney owes the client the duty of confidentiality, even after death. After a client's death, the only person who can waive confidentiality for the client is the... View More
After closing on my home, but before moving in, my neighbor had his property surveyed. Among other things, there is a semi permanent structure built by the sellers husband, who is deceased, that the survey shows is encroaching on his property. On the Disclosure Statement, the seller stated there... View More
answered on Jun 24, 2022
The answer to this question is: maybe. There are two different issues. The first is the encroachment onto the neighbor's property. The second is the basement work done without proper permits.
As to the first (encroachment issue), the seller would not be liable to you for that unless... View More
Furniture, linens, utensils, flatware, dishes and clothing. Do we just guess what the value could be? The clothing would be donated because none of the heirs can wear the clothing or want them. Is there some type of calculation formula? These items really don't have a monetary value. As far... View More
answered on Jun 3, 2022
There are a number of places where you can get inventory values for the things you need.
For valuation of real estate, an appraisal is acceptable but may not be required. Local practice may vary, and other sources of valuation for real estate may also be accepted, such as a Comparative... View More
answered on May 20, 2022
By "a wife's rights to everything", I'm assuming you mean the surviving spouse's right to a share of an intestate estate. Generally speaking, if the husband dies leaving a probate estate and leaves a surviving spouse, the surviving spouse is entitled to the first $240,000... View More
A man passed in Michigan where he and his wife were living at that time. He and his wife own land in SC worth $4,000. Does the land automatically go to her without filing probate in MI? His entire estate was less than $20,000.
The wife is trying to sell the land in SC but this issue arose... View More
answered on May 16, 2022
This is a question that depends on South Carolina law. A Michigan probate court does not have jurisdiction to decide matters regarding real estate located outside the State of Michigan. Other states could have a statute though that allows South Carolina to recognize ancillary probate proceedings... View More
Our property is shown in the Real Estate For Sale Listing of our neighbors. However our Property Survey Markers have been digitally removed as well as No Trespassing signs?
They moved to Florida months ago and left some furniture behind. We closed gave them 2 days per the closing agreement and they are still dragging feet on removing the items. Can we take possession of the house and allow them to come and get their stuff later.
answered on Apr 27, 2022
It sounds like you should be able to take possession and change the locks, but to be sure you should take your documents to a real estate attorney for review. In situations like these I usually tell people they can put the items in storage and give the former homeowner notice that they can come get... View More
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