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New Mexico Probate Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Real Estate Law for New Mexico on
Q: Do I need to notify Sierra County Clerk about all co-owned properties in probate?

I am currently managing my father's probate process. He was a joint owner in multiple properties in Sierra County, listed as "Tenants in Common" on all Trustee's Deeds. Probate was filed in Bernalillo County Probate Court, as that was his county of residence. I understand that I... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 15, 2025

You are hopelessly confused and about to get into trouble. Hire a NM attorney now. Apparently you do not know the difference between Trustees' owning trust corpus and Deeds of Trusts where the tenants in common owe money on a note. If Father owned as a TIC then he owned some share of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: In New Mexico if my brother refuses to file a will does the probate court proceed as if there is not one?

My father just passed away and I know there was at least 1 will possibly 2 and my brother says he is the named executor and he doesn't have to file it in the courts nor does his estate have to go through probate. He also is refusing to let me see the will telling me my fathers home is going to... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 13, 2025

Hire a NM attorney to file for an intestate administration. The administrator will have to make a bond and then start marshalling up the Estate's assets.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: In New Mexico if my father has a will naming my brother as executor is his estate required by law to go through probate?

My father just passed away and he named my brother as his legal representative in his will. My brother believes because he is listed as my father legal representative that my fathers estate does not have to go through probate court. Is that correct? If not what exactly is the law regarding probate... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Feb 5, 2025

Where there’s a will there’s probate. The will only nominates an executor. It takes a court order to appoint an executor. Most of the time the court goes along with the nomination in the will, but not always.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Real Estate Law and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My Dad died interstate. But had a written will with two witnesses. Is there a way to transfer the home to the heirs

Can the home valued at 56000 be transfer to heir with our probate?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Feb 1, 2025

Deceased heirs own it at death unless the Will is probated, which may be advisable. Hire a NM attorney to search the title, determine heirship, then record an affidavit and/or deeds to get it to the heir who wants it.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My friend passed away but had wanted me and mu kids to have his house if anything ever happened, but left no will
Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jan 27, 2025

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but no will means the decedent’s property goes to next of kin.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Elder Law and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My father is being financially exploited and is experiencing undue influence from my I brother and son how can I stop it

My 83 yr old father has my 55 yr old brother who has lived in my fathers home for 14 yrs without having any job and my 40 yr old son has lived there consistently for aprox 21 yrs never paying for anything either. My father has been diagnosed with dementia but has a fluctuating cognitive impairment.... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Dec 19, 2024

You can file your own report with adult protective services. But chances are that will not bring any relief. The only real solution is to hire an attorney to petition the court to appoint you as guardian and conservator for your father. If you have limited means you might try your local legal aid... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Criminal Law, Civil Litigation and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: What is the process of adding an additional party to an upcoming trial? this is regarding a trust

I believe I need to motion for a JOINDER OF PARTIES this matter is regarding my fathers Trust where I am now Trustee but the previous Trustee has committed multiple breeches and has yet to be held accountable. How do I make sure he is included in this trial so that his actions are not lost?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Nov 21, 2024

You will need a NM attorney that handles trust litigation. The complaint/petition, whatever will need to be amended by adding a defendant and a cause of action for breach of fiduciary duty, etc. It will be alot of work and you will not be able to do this pro se as the successor trustee.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Elder Law and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: In clovis New Mexico seems the executer stealing trust & OD my father &nobody else can get medical record or bank info

Laws in NM make it easy for executer to get away with murder and embezzlement nobody else can get the records or file wrongful death. My father was not her 1st victim commishioner James Ridling was my fathers friend and business partner. Does anyone know what happened to him.

Ryan Sise
Ryan Sise
answered on May 7, 2024

Good afternoon, I am sorry to hear about your father's passing. It seems as if the executor may not be following their assigned duties as the trust's executor. All is not lost, there are ways to encourage an executor of a trust to follow their required responsibilities, and/or you can ask... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Real Estate Law, Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: Hello I was married for 20 years then divorced wife got everything now she's passed on do I get what I worked for back

Like the house the property and there was no will and we have two kids

T. Augustus Claus
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answered on Jan 10, 2024

In New Mexico, when a spouse passes away without a will, the state's intestate succession laws come into play to determine how the deceased's assets are distributed. Since you were divorced from your wife, and assuming she did not update her estate plan after the divorce, you might not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Real Estate Law, Civil Rights and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My brother passed away in custody of the county jail my half sister violated the rights and went behind my back and got

Awarded as personal representative of his estate and filed a tort claim against the county. Is there anything I can do to have her removed as his personal representative? If so how do I go about it

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Dec 5, 2023

In New Mexico, if you believe that your half-sister, as the personal representative of your late brother's estate, has violated certain rights or acted improperly, you do have options to challenge her position.

First, you need to file a petition in the probate court that is handling...
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1 Answer | Asked in Insurance Defense and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: If my parents died n they both had life insurance policies but the probate is already done with but we never got any in

Information on who were the beneficiarys on anything

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jan 2, 2024

A New Mexico attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for four weeks. I'm sorry for the loss of your parents. Until you are able to consult with a local attorney, you could contact the insurance company and ask about the policies. Good luck

1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: my fathers aunt had left him her house via a transfer on death deed , both have passed what can I do. Im the heir

I don't think it was recorded,

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 23, 2023

If the Deed was not recorded, it has no effect here. You might want to get the Deed placed of record, then establish that you are your Father's Heir (Probate, Affidavit of Heirship) etc. If you have the Deed, hire a NM attorney. You may have to then get possession after you establish title.

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My son passed away he was only 19 do I need to do probate seeing his dad in another state wants to come take all he had.

Not married no children lived with me for 9 years alone after divorce.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jun 21, 2023

More than likely, both you and the father are the heirs and next of kin. So he has an interest in the property the same as you. If there are no assets, then there is probably no need for Probate. If the Son owned land or cash, etc., then Probate may be needed, and you can charge fees as the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: Mom died intestate. I'm assigned "estate" representative for myself and two siblings. Her bills exceed her funds. Help

How do I know who gets paid?

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

There is a specific order in which bills of a decedent's estate get paid if there are not enough funds to pay them all. The probate attorney assisting you will be able to help you what 'class' each particular bill falls into and the order in which each 'class' of debt is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My mother passed away last year and I am the successor in interest to the estate but I also have 1 brother.

I lived there with my mom but after she passed I moved in with my dad so the property was empty. The property was vandalized and or stuff stolen and the insurance is going to cover the damages. Is my brother entitled to half of the insurance money for the break in

Evan Woodward
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answered on Mar 13, 2023

I am sorry that you lost your mother.

The answer to your question depends on the fact scenario involving your mother's Estate at the time of her passing. If your mother died with a valid will - the provisions of the will must be followed. Therefore, whomever inherited the damaged...
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1 Answer | Asked in Probate for New Mexico on
Q: wife died with $1700 in her account, bank needs small estate affidavit + death cert., how do I get that affidavit?

They have the death certificate but that was not enough. I am 82 and my main source of income is social security.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 3, 2022

Call the Court in your County that handles Probate and ask them. It should not be difficult. But if Probate costs too much, you might try an Affidavit of Heirship. Possibly legal aid might assist. It can be recorded and might then suffice for the Bank to release funds to the Next of Kin.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for New Mexico on
Q: My father passed away without a will and my stepmom said it's all hers is she correct or am I supposed to get something?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 22, 2022

Hire a competent NM attorney to search the Title. At least look at the Deed and see who the grantees are. StepMother probably either owns it outright under the current Deed as the survivor, or she and the other Heirs At Law (which includes you) are now Tenants In Common. If the latter, you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: New Mexico: Husband was on commission paid 60 days after earned. Is that estate or community property?

Individual debt $15,000.

Total amount in estate now is only $14,000. How to handle. More than happy to set up appt to discuss.

Also death caused by medication error—personal injury possible?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Sep 9, 2022

A New Mexico attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. I'm very sorry for your loss. There are a couple of different areas of law here, and I can only speak for the medication-related issue. Most firms that handle such cases offer free initial consults. In terms... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate for New Mexico on
Q: IF My sibling and myself, are both listed as beneficiarys and the will says my siblings name and uses the word (and)and

Then Says my name does that mean that she inherits the estate then when she passes it goes to me

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jun 11, 2022

Your question cannot be answered without reviewing the actual language of the will, but most likely you and your sister will inherit equal shares.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for New Mexico on
Q: Can I legally sell my house to my POA? Can I legally sell my house if I have a will?
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answered on May 24, 2022

Absent very unusual circumstances, you can sell anything you own to anyone you want. And having a will does not prevent you from selling anything you own. However, these are very general answers to very general questions. Clearly you are concerned about or troubled by something. Follow your... View More

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