Q: Four years ago my aunt left my sister-in-law as power of attorney that the house gets spilt by the kids .
So now my aunt is 90 years old they shipped her to Italy and they sold her house and my kids never got their share that the Aunt promised them. I have it on video tape that the end gave a testimony to She said that she always had this paperwork in her safe at the bank but my sister-in-law ripped it up
A:
A power of attorney may allow a person to sell real estate why the person is alive. If someone promises to split a house once they die that falls under probate and a power of attorney has no effect.
If the power of attorney specifically stated proceeds were to be split there may be grounds to file suit. You should consult a lawyer in the jurisdiction where this happened.
A: Directions for how real estate or other assets are to be distributed after someone's death must generally be contained in a properly executed Will to be enforceable. There are a number of formalities that go along with executing a Will and if they are not properly followed the Surrogate's Court may not accept the Will and follow its directions. Generally, simply saying what you want to happen in the future even on video would not meet those formalities
A: If she is in Italy, there is nothing you can do. You would need to be her guardian, and then sue your sister in law.
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.