You mention that your father was defrauded into changing his Will. If someone attempts to probate the Will, you are entitled to contest it in the Probate Court. Based upon what you've stated, it seems that you have a good case to contest the fraudulent will.

It also sounds as though... View More

No, you're parental rights override a temporary guardianship. You need to hire an attorney and contest this in the probate court.

If you know who the Trustee is, or who the attorney for the Trust is, request a copy from them. As a beneficiary you are entitled to a copy of the trust.

A person who fails to survive the decedent by 120 hours is deemed to have predecased the decedent for purposes of homestead allowance, exempt property and intestate succession. 474.015 Missouri Revised Statutes. It appears that you were your mother's sole surviving heir and, as such, you... View More

You should consider retaining an attorney to bring an action to enforce the trust and require an accounting from the trustee. It appears that the trustee is not acting in a proper fiduciary manner, nor complying with the terms of the Trust. You are entitled to an accounting for trust property... View More

An attorney cannot ethically advance costs. Therefore, the costs must be paid up front- usuallly by the personal representative. Intial Court costs are typically under $200.00. These costs can be reimbursed from Estate funds after the personal representative receives his or her letters of... View More

If there is only a car, or minimal property, you should be able to file a Small Estate Affidavit for estates with total assets under $40,000.00. If you have paid your father's funeral bill and the bill is roughly equal to the value of the car, you may be able to file a Creditor's... View More

The State of Missouri has a limited time in which they can recover payments made on behalf of a decedent through medicaid. If the State follows all the requirements within the proper time frame they can enforce their claim. The State of Missouri can open an Estate for the deceased, if necessary... View More

If you are a co-owner of the accounts with a JTWROS (Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorhsip) designation, then those accounts pass directly to you and no probate is required for those accounts.

I'm not entirely clear, without seeing the Judgment, but I tend to think that you are entitled to inherit. Unless you were actually adopted as the legal child of your aunt and uncle, you should still maintain your right to inherit. Often when a parent is unable to handle the... View More

Marital debt is apportioned between the parties in nearly all States. If bankruptcy is a serious consideration, it is often an effective strategy for Husband and Wife to file a joint bankruptcy prior to dissolving the marriage. This way they can eliminate most, if not all, of the debt that could... View More

You need to contact an attorney and open an Estate for your mother immediatately. As you mother's son, you are entitled to apply for Letters of Administration. The friend has zero rights and should not have access to the house much less giving a car "away" - how is the neighbor... View More

If the retirement account and certificate of deposit already have named beneficiar(ies), then it will not be necessary to file a probate proceeding as to those assets. Those assets would "by-pass" Probate - assuming the beneficiary has survived the decedent.

If your wife is an heir, she entitled to see all documents filed with the Court, including the Will (if there was one), and all Inventories of the property. When the Estate is ready for settlement, she is entitled to a copy of the Final Settlement or Statement of Account, which is a full... View More

What you describe sounds like a post-filing debt, which would not be discharged in your Chapter 13. I have no doubt that your jurisdiction forbids incurring new debt, (including credit cards) without Court permission. (No Court in my experience would EVER grant permission). I agree with Mr.... View More

No, that would be a violation of the debtor's discharge. 11 U.S. Code 524 (a) 2 provides that a Discharge operates as an injunction against the commencement or continuation of an action, employment of process, or an act to collect, recover or offset such debt as a personal liability of the... View More

Yes, his new wife is entitled to inherit, unless a will or estate planning devise provides otherwise, despite the short duration of their marriage. SInce you have children, the wife is entitled to one half the intestate estate and his children are entitled to inherit the other half. I assume that... View More

The automatic stay in a Bankruptcy only exists while the case is open and the Stay is in effect. If you have been discharged in your Chapter 7 and the case is closed, there remains no protection under the automatic stay. If the creditor applied for, and was granted relief from the automatic stay,... View More

There are a lot of issues here. The first thing you need to do is to determine whether or not an estate has been opened in the Probate Court. I am assuming your grandfather was from the Columbia area, which would be Boone County. If there was a Will and it was validly excuted by your... View More

Missouri does not recognize Common Law marriage, unless the couple was living in another State where it was lawful. Beyond that, it sounds to me like they WERE married but had separated. If they WERE legally married, separated or not, at the time the decedent died, then the Wife is entitled to... View More