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Missouri Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Civil Rights and Probate for Missouri on
Q: How can I prove I was the beneficiary?

My cousin took the will and put her name on the account so I would not have access to anything

Kelisen  Binder
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Kelisen Binder
answered on Apr 24, 2024

You should open a probate estate in the county where your loved one died. If a will exists, you can file that will with the Court to inform how the estate should be distributed. Without more information I am unable to give any more specific advice. What account? Who is the deceased?

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Missouri on
Q: Removed from will in codicil but still in letters testamentary of administration. Will I get what is listed?

If I am removed from a will due to a codicil but I am mentioned in a application for letters testamentary, will I receive what is stated or will I have to fight the codicil?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 19, 2024

If the Codicil is admitted to Probate, then it modifies the Probated Will. If you have interpreted it correctly, then you receive nothing. But Codicils have to be drafted and executed properly, so you may wish to contest the Codicil. Hire a MO attorney to look at the Probate file.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Missouri on
Q: Does emergency guardianship override parental custody rights?

I have a five year old daughter and I let her go with my ex whom is not her biological father he was supposed to return her and didn’t so I reported her missing. Somehow 24 hours after she was reported missing a lady I used to live with got granted emergency guardianship. I don’t even know how... View More

Lloyd  Nolan
Lloyd Nolan
answered on Mar 23, 2024

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

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Probate and Real Estate Law for Missouri on
Q: My mother passed away & we were co signers on our home. Family member got POA on mom n sold our home. What can I do?

My mother & I co-signed to buy our home 7 yrs ago. My mother went into a home. Family member got POA on my mom, wrongfully 4 day evicted (not court ordered) me and disabled adult brother. They sold our home and 3 months later I found papers on agreement with my signature under my mom's on... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 9, 2024

I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother and the incredibly difficult situation you're in with your family member and home. Losing your mother is heartbreaking enough, let alone having a relative use a power of attorney to evict you and sell the house out from under you with no notice.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Missouri on
Q: I co owned property in Missouri with another person with rights of survivorship the other co owner died recently

He was living on the property when he died what are my legal rights concerning any personally belongs left on the property (clothes furniture tool ECT.)

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 23, 2024

In a situation where you co-owned property in Missouri with another person with rights of survivorship, and the other co-owner has recently passed away, your legal rights concerning any personal belongings left on the property may depend on various factors. If there was a will outlining the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Probate and Social Security for Missouri on
Q: My mother is receiving inheritance from her father after he passed away, but she is on SSI in Missouri

We are trying to figure out how she can get her inheritance without being kicked off of her SSI. Will it have to be in a trust? Or could someone be able to take over handling the money for her and give it out to her when she needs it?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 30, 2024

It's important to consider the impact of receiving an inheritance on your mother's SSI benefits in Missouri. In general, receiving an inheritance can affect her eligibility for SSI because it can be considered as income or a resource.

One option to protect her SSI eligibility is...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Missouri on
Q: My mother was to recieve court ordered restitution. My mother passed away before she rcd payment. Can I collect the $?

I am her only living child. She was not married. I posses a notarized last will and Test. And a DPOA

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Jan 30, 2024

As the only living child of your mother who was entitled to receive court-ordered restitution, you may have the right to collect this restitution after her passing. Since you possess a notarized last will and testament, along with a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), these documents will likely play... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Missouri on
Q: Where do I find a joint petition to remove conservatorship now that my husband is no longer disabled

My husband was declared disabled and since has regained cognitive functions, how do we get him his rights back and end conservatorship

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 21, 2024

Here are the steps to end a conservatorship in Missouri when your husband has regained capacity:

1. File a Joint Petition for Termination of Conservatorship with the probate court that has jurisdiction over the conservatorship. This requests that the court terminate the conservatorship....
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1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Probate for Missouri on
Q: Does law 475.120, RSMo (2000) apply to behavioral health unit of nursing home?

Wanting to know if law 475.120, (2000) applies to this separate unit of a nursing home where I am.

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Oct 13, 2023

No, Missouri law 475.120, RSMo (2000) does not apply to a behavioral health unit of a nursing home. The law specifically states that it applies to "all nursing homes in Missouri." A behavioral health unit of a nursing home is not a separate nursing home. It is a part of a nursing home... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Missouri on
Q: My dead mother’s husband refuses to show me her will and her trust. What do I do

I know my mother named me as a beneficiary and I know a trust was recently filed although my mother died three years ago

Lloyd  Nolan
Lloyd Nolan
answered on Aug 16, 2023

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.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Missouri on
Q: My mother.passed away last year and was owed restitution. I am her only living child. Am I entitled to that money?
T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Aug 7, 2023

In many cases, when a person who is owed restitution passes away, their right to receive the restitution payment can pass to their estate or heirs.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Civil Litigation and Probate for Missouri on
Q: What are my rights as a widow?

My husband was set to inherit the house that we live in unfortunately he passed away and now my in-laws are trying to kick me out on the streets with absolutely nothing they also took my car away the one that they gave my husband and I when he was alive. What are my rights? What am I entitled to?

Chad Garrett Mann
Chad Garrett Mann
answered on Jul 20, 2023

First and foremost, I'm so sorry for your loss. Dealing with property and inheritance issues after the death of a spouse can be complex and emotionally taxing. Please note that while I can provide some general guidance on this issue, it's essential to consult with an attorney who can give... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Missouri on
Q: My Big Brother Todd Passed Away April 8,2023 My Other Brother and I Took Todd off of Life Support! WE All Thought I Was

Beneficiary But We Cannot Find the Paperwork We Do Have a Bank Statement That Puts Me as POD Does That Keep The House out of Probate and How Would I Get it in My Name I Have No Clue

Jennifer Sheila Kornblum
Jennifer Sheila Kornblum
answered on Jun 7, 2023

I am very sorry for your loss. You really need to consult a probate attorney to get the big picture on Todd's estate, particularly since you are unable to locate a will. Generally speaking, the POD account transfers to you automatically. But that has nothing to do with any real estate he... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Missouri on
Q: Should the estate have paid the back real estate taxes once the probate case was finalized? I got the bill-executor.

The atty had the tax bills and did not pay them out of the estate once finalized. The other party has already been paid out. I'm the executor and received a final notice to pay said taxes. I never got any previous notices. Now I have 12 days to pay back taxes for 2 years. The probate case was... View More

John Michael Frick
John Michael Frick
answered on Jun 5, 2023

Ordinarily, the executor of the estate would pay any taxes before making any distribution to the heirs.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Missouri on
Q: 3 real estate properties in Missouri to be sold and divided between me and 2 sisters.

My mother told me she and her husband agreed to pass 3 properties to my 2 sisters and I. My sister was supposed to sell all 3 and divide the money 3 ways. Instead she convinced my mothers widower to give all of them to someone else. I just found out 2 years after his death. Is there anything I can... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on May 23, 2023

At the very minimum, hire a MO attorney to search the three titles and determine present record ownership. If you are an heir, then a suit for a Sale For Partition might be available.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for Missouri on
Q: The situation: Bill is going to be declared dead in August. Bill had a child, Mark who passed away in 2019. Mark had a

Son, Zach who is still alive. Bill died in California, we live in missouri.

Bills siblings got a letter from California Inheritance Group claiming Bill had unclaimed assets and they are going to divide it between his siblings. I don’t believe that is correct I believe it should be all... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Apr 30, 2023

First, you do not need to go through California Inheritance Group to claim these funds. You can find it here and make a claim yourself: https://www.sco.ca.gov/upd_msg.html

Under the laws of California, if a person dies unmarried with living descendants and no will, the descendants...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Missouri on
Q: How does one obtain assets that were never retrieved and distributed to heir and newly discovered assets after probate?

Now I have come to one IRA Annuity claim in the amount close to $300,000 which is requiring the executor to be the one to obtain through this particular insurance company. Along with this, I know of another possible insurance claim and securities that may also require the same with the executor.... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 3, 2023

Hire a competent MO attorney to reopen the Estate with you as administrator cta, the original executor, or even appoint another attorney to serve. Annuities rarely go to the Estate but usually to designated beneficiaries. MO probably does not have jurisdiction over the annuities, so hope that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Missouri on
Q: Who can put in a claim against a deceased person’s property who only had one living heir at time of probate?

I was the only living heir to my mother’s property. I had a sister and a brother who are both deceased. My sister was kept on a respirator for 26 hours after my mother passed away. My sister had a massive stroke about six hours before my mother passed away and was put on the respirator. This... View More

Lloyd  Nolan
Lloyd Nolan
answered on Feb 24, 2023

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

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for Missouri on
Q: When a will is filed in Missouri, does the executor pay filing fees and other expenses upfront out of his own funds?

Since an attorney is required when filing a will for probate and the court requires payment of a filing fee, this can be a significant sum for someone who has been named an executor to pay on their own.

Lloyd  Nolan
Lloyd Nolan
answered on Jan 22, 2023

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

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Missouri on
Q: Can 2 heirs sale inherited farm if 1 heir disagrees & is trustee of irrevocable trust & lives in house? Missouri state

Trustee lives in house & kept 98% of contents along with farm contents. Land has been surveyed into 3 plots of 42 acres each, but house,lot & barn w/lot not included. Has been appraised. He won’t pay heirs their 2/3 .

Lloyd  Nolan
Lloyd Nolan
answered on Jan 22, 2023

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

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