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Nebraska Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Elder Law for Nebraska on
Q: How can I find out if a person has a power of attorney?

My grandmother is in the beginning stages of dementia and she doesn’t know if she has a will or if she has power of attorney and she doesn’t know where any of her legal documents are at.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 8, 2024

If she wants you to be her attorney in fact, then get a NE attorney to draft a Durable POA for her to execute. She can even record the POA saying it revokes any other prior POAs out there. But you will be a fiduciary for her best interests, not your own.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Banking for Nebraska on
Q: I'm trying to open an estate account. I have all legal documents I need to do so, however, checxsystem is blocking me

How do I get around that?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jan 31, 2024

If you're facing issues opening an estate account due to a ChexSystems block, there are steps you can take to address the situation:

Contact ChexSystems: Reach out to ChexSystems to obtain a copy of your consumer report. You have the right to request this report annually, free of...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: My dad was married for 30 plus years he passed 6 yrs ago his wife was place in nursing home not long after her daughter

Sold their home 2 months ago mother's care was not dependent upon sale am I entitled to anything ?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 12, 2023

In Nebraska, whether you are entitled to anything from the sale of your late father's home depends on several factors, including how the property was owned, your father's will (if he had one), and state inheritance laws. If the home was owned jointly by your father and his wife, it likely... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: My father passed 6 yr ago married for 30 plus yrs she has been placed in a nursing home house was sold and her children

Took the money from it her care has been taken care of financially before selling the house. Am I entitled to anything

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 12, 2023

When a married person dies in Nebraska, the surviving spouse is typically entitled to an elective share of the estate (either 1/3 or 1/2 depending on if there are children). This applies even if the deceased spouse left a will giving everything to other beneficiaries.

The proceeds from the...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Nebraska on
Q: My Dad passed away on 01/03/2021, myself and my 3 sisters got an inheritance check each for around $19,000….

I put my check in my Moms savings account as I was driving back and forth from Ks to Ne taking care of her. She insisted that I put it in there and SAVE IT for fixing up a house in Ne that she bought for her and I to live in. SO she died unexpectedly on April 28th 2021 and the check

Is... View More

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on May 9, 2023

The law generally recognizes legal titles. Thus, if there is money sitting in the account in someone's name for a couple of years, the Court will generally recognize those funds as belonging to the named account holder. You would need to speak with an attorney about the specific facts of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: Do we have to go through probate to receive the funds in one annuity account of unknown $ amount?

My sister passed away last year. She had named her two children as beneficiaries on all of her accounts except this one. Her total estate was slightly over $100,000, so we can't use the Small Estate Affidavit or Transfer of Personal Property Without Probate forms. Is there a simpler way to... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Apr 20, 2023

Who is the beneficiary? That person needs to make a claim against the insurance co. for the annuity death benefit. Legal Suit is very difficult as to which jurisdiction to sue in, which is probably not the State you are in. Read the Annuity Contract and hire a NE attorney to start making a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Agricultural Law for Nebraska on
Q: Does a court go off the last Will made?

.

Kelly Henry Turner
Kelly Henry Turner
answered on Jan 27, 2023

If the Will is valid the Court will admit the most recent recently executed Will. The Will could be challenged if there is any concern for undue influence, capacity or fraud.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Nebraska on
Q: If my sister and I inherited a house from our parents, and my sister dies, so I now own all of the house?

The house is in both of our names.

Kelly Henry Turner
Kelly Henry Turner
answered on Jan 27, 2023

The answer would depend on how you and the sister owned the house. If the house is owned as Tenants-in-Common, each owns an undivided interest in the property. The deceased sister's interest would pass through her estate.

If the property is owned in Joint Tenancy with Rights of...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Nebraska on
Q: When selling a house is it illegal to give a car away with the purchase of the house?

Can I be liable for any damages to the vehicle before or after a year once it is in the possession of the property buyer? What are my responsibilities once I have sold?

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on May 4, 2022

If you did the proper legal formalities such as a bill of sale and transferring the title of the vehicle to the new owner, then you likely have no further responsibility at least as owner of the vehicle. If you left the vehicle but you are still a title holder, then things become more complicated... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Legal Malpractice, Contracts and Estate Planning for Nebraska on
Q: Should the estate Atty (executor) provide a periodic accounting of legal costs to the beneficiaries? it’s been 9 months.

We’ve sent written requests for accounting of legal fees and asked in person. I once asked what the typical cost of an estate this size (3M) runs. Initially he said 20-25K, a month later I asked again and he said 40-45K. We’ve received nothing in writing regarding legal fees. I asked why the... View More

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on Jan 6, 2022

Someone likely entered into a fee agreement with the attorney. The fee agreement likely sets forth how often the attorney will send an updated accounting. You should ask and expect the attorney to generally follow the terms of this agreement.

There should be an accounting of fees...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Nebraska on
Q: Can a person with power of attorney change a will, or make it so beneficiaries do not get property they are to recieve?
Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Oct 12, 2021

No, a will cannot be made or amended by an agent under a power of attorney. When it comes to making a will, that authority is not delegable. It is sometimes possible for a conservator to make or amend a will for a ward, but that is rare and it requires court approval.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Nebraska on
Q: My husband and I need a basic will set up. How much does this cost usually?
Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on Jun 18, 2021

It depends on a lot of factors. Probably between $500 to $5,000 depending on what your assets and debts are and what you mean by "basic will."

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: My mother lived in Colorado Springs I live in Nebraska and my brother lives in Oregon I am the oldest child my mom did

Have a will in which I was named as executor. The will went missing however I have many relatives that witnessed what the will said and named me as executor my brother has taken possession of all of my mom's money and will not give me the 50% my mom had written as her wishes for her 2 children... View More

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on Oct 19, 2020

You may need to retain a probate attorney to assist you in having the estate divided with the assistance of the Court. Generally you need to retain an attorney where the deceased last lived.

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law, Elder Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: What are the steps to getting your name added to a house title in Lincoln Nebraska? Brother had mom's name removed.

My dad passed, my brother removed mom's name so he's the only person on the title. My mother is elderly and she said she didn't know. I was never consulted and found out by looking at the county records. My bother said I can be put on the title but I don't know where to start.

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on Sep 4, 2020

If you are implying that there may have been some type of fraud in removing the mother's name and adding the brother's name to the title, then that needs to be looked into and corrected if necessary first before participating in the brother's willingness to add another name to the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Nebraska on
Q: Good morning! Question about whether a decedent's Will designating a trustee is sufficient to avoid probate.

We have been told my mother's Will designating me as trustee and personal representative, is not sufficient to avoid probate. The will drawn up in Nebraska, states "...my personal representative shall have all of the powers conferred on trustees under the Nebraska Trustees Powers Act....... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on May 25, 2020

Where there's a will, there's probate, period. Probate is how wills are administered. If you want to avoid probate, then you should create a trust-based estate plan. Trusts are administered with no court involvement unless someone sues to set aside or void or contest the trust.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Estate Planning, Family Law and Real Estate Law for Nebraska on
Q: Husband won't put my name on the deed to house. I have been paying towards the mortgage since marriage. What can I do?

Only his name is on the mortgage, he paid on the house for 6 years before we were married. House has appreciated since marriage, we have both put work into it. He makes 50k more a year than I do, but I work FT and stay home with our child 5 days a week. I pay half of all utilities/groceries/family... View More

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on Mar 3, 2020

Generally, even if only one spouse's name is on the deed, the court will generally consider the home as marital if purchased during the marriage. If one spouse owned the home prior to the marriage, then the Court will generally determine that part of the equity in the home is marital and part... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Tax Law for Nebraska on
Q: can they charge you inheritance tax if you never received the inheritance?

Court papers mailed to us saying we owe taxes on an inheritance. We never received an inheritance. We were told that once my husbands dad and uncle pass away then my husband would get what is left over, however when I call the courts it says that it was tax on an amount down to the penny. I called... View More

David Ostrove
David Ostrove
answered on Feb 25, 2020

The tax is based on the fair market value of what the beneficiary receives, even though the actual receipt may be postponed. The lawyer will need more facts to answer.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: Nebraska Revised Statute 43-293.

The Statute states An order terminating the parent-juvenile relationship shall divest the parent and juvenile of all legal rights, privileges, duties, and obligations with respect to each other and the parents shall have no rights of inheritance with respect to such juvenile

Does this mean... View More

Julie Fowler
Julie Fowler
answered on Dec 30, 2019

If a parent's parental rights are terminated, it generally ends the legal relationship. Thus, the statutes of inheritance among parent-child are also generally severed. Thus, if the parent dies without a will, then the child isn't likely to inherit as a "child" of the parent... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Nebraska on
Q: My father while in hospice created a new will the day before he died cutting me out of his estate. Can I do anything?

He had a will in September 2019 with a lawyer's assistance. Notarized etc. The executor said he would like to meet with my siblings and I to see if we can reach an agreement. I have a feeling they will not. I would like to be ready to do what I need to do to contest the final will. I have no... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Dec 17, 2019

You can hire a will contest attorney to challege the will on the basis of lack of capacity and possibly also undue influence. Be prepared for the attorney to counsel you that reaching a settlement with your siblings will be cheaper and and easier than a will contest.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Nebraska on
Q: i bought a new house . its all paid n free n clear.. my question is i havent made a change in my will yet .

my will has my previous property listed..

what happens if i die and havent listed this house in my will

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Nov 26, 2019

The new house would pass according to the residuary clause in your will.

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