Dad left me a letter that my Step Mom would sell the house and gift me with money from the sale. She even stated she would sell the house then get settled then split the proceeds between her son & I.
Last week I asked her to put something in writing legally. She then told me she... View More 
answered on Nov 27, 2023
If the house was held as tenants by entireties, i.e. as husband and wife, it passes by operation of law to your step mother. The letter is worthless. The will would be irrelevant as to the house. You would have to be legally evicted, but she could do it.
With death information provided by this online site which also connects deceased family members with their other relatives, may I use this information in place of a death certificate? Thanks for your previous response.
answered on Nov 26, 2023
No, this type of website info is not a substitute for a death certificate
As niece of a New York resident who died intestate and in petitioning for section 1310 Voluntary Administrator, must the filing include death certificates of the deceased parents as well as certicates for the deceased siblings, where only my parents had children? The only asset/liability is a $14k... View More
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answered on Nov 26, 2023
In New York, when petitioning for Section 1310 Voluntary Administration, it is generally necessary to provide a death certificate for the deceased individual whose estate you are administering. This serves as official proof of death and is crucial for the legal process. However, the requirement to... View More
The will was created while I was a minor and never updated. I am an adult now. In the will, personal representatives are named. Only one is still present. In filing documents with the court, I was told that I am unable to receive the paperwork needed because of these representatives being named.... View More
answered on Nov 1, 2023
You will definitely need a lawyer on this one. It's a complex NY Probate matter. What are the assets of the estate? Makes me very sad that people didn't do a Trust instead of a will. Also, you could have filed for ADMINISTRAITON without a will and avoided all the headache alltogether... View More
I, along with my partner who is also 68 and suffers from advanced Alzheimer's Disease, resides in the home of the decedent whose house is in reverse mortgage. The deceased has six other siblings, three deceased. The house value is close to the outstanding balance on the reverse mortgage. I... View More
answered on Oct 19, 2023
A proceeding will need to be commenced in Surrogate's Court.
Ja k
I signed a retainer agreement to settle my father's estate. The estate consisted of a house and a small life insurance policy that was turned over to Nys unclaimed fund. The retainer agreement stated that it included assistance in asset collection and transfer of real property. The day that... View More
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answered on Nov 4, 2023
If you believe your attorney is charging you twice for the same service, it is important to address this concern directly. Review the initial retainer agreement closely to understand the scope of services included, particularly regarding asset collection and real estate transactions. If the... View More
Probate court has violated every rule and law as well as executor even criminal I believe but I can't afford an attorney. What do I do?
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answered on Sep 29, 2023
If you believe that the court is acting improperly, you may be able to file a complaint with the judicial conduct board or another oversight body. You might also attempt to file your appeal in a higher court, but failure to meet deadlines may be problematic.
When my mother died in 2019, I unwittingly inherited a $100K Wells Fargo home equity loan from 2011 that it's my understanding was never paid back, either by her or by my late father. She had been claiming to pay off the loan using my SSI funds, and only in 2022 did I find out that was not... View More
answered on Sep 19, 2023
While an estate can owe funds for debt of a decedent which can be deducted from the distribution of their assets, you would not be liable on a loan you did not sign (in other words, you cannot “inherit” a loan). You can, however, inherit real estate and that real estate may be encumbered by a... View More
There's 2 other siblings
answered on Sep 19, 2023
Check the Surrogate's Court of the county he might have filed his will, typically that of his residency, for a will. If nothing is there, contact the attorneys you are aware he most recently used for legal matters. If that's a dead end, run an advertisement in the local bar association... View More
also died and before that his brother was appointed his guardian as he had dementia. Am I entitled to this money or should it go to my sister’s husband’s family? This happened in New York City.
answered on Sep 19, 2023
The term "left" is ambiguous. If the mutual fund had someone as the beneficiary and that beneficiary predeceased, the fund reverts to the decedent's estate. If the mutual fund was bequeathed in a will, then the will must be reviewed to determine if someone else specifically gets... View More
The house was sold and there is a Will. There is a beneficiary who cannot be found. Letters have been sent and the letters have been returned to the sender. We visited the address and they no longer live there. There is no phone to communicate. Other beneficiaries are concerned that if this... View More
answered on Sep 12, 2023
There is a proceeding to bring where the money can be paid into court for that person, and the others can be paid.
My grandparents passed away and left a Will where all grandchildren are beneficiaries. My grandparents' children are deceased. The house is up for sale. There are six grandchildren, of which one is deceased, but has a living spouse and two children. We are unable to locate them to inform... View More
answered on Sep 9, 2023
Distribution of assets down the lineage to classes of beneficiaries depends upon the specific wording of the Will, which must be reviewed, as a determination of whether the testator's intent was that the estate assets were to pass down the lineage by per stirpes or per capita must be made.... View More
My mom died as well in 2017 and she had filed a lawsuit in 2014 and we had to show proof that she was our mother , so if something were to happen that we take over and what ever she would be receiving the money would be split between us . Sadly she passed and it went dormant for years until my... View More
answered on Sep 3, 2023
I'm sorry for your family's loss. It would probably be better for an attorney who practices in the Probate & Estate Planning areas to offer guidance to you. The question is posted under Civil Litigation, and that's probably why it wasn't picked up. The issues you describe... View More
One hundred thousand dollars it says if there are no liquid asssests in his estate when he dies then said distribution should lapse . Now my sister got the house that I’ve lived in fir 20 years n hurriedly transferred the house in her name and then there’s another house my father had that... View More
answered on Aug 24, 2023
It depends on the language in the Will if you can use estate funds or take the asset subject to the lein. More often you can and should pay off the debt with estate assets. A careful review of the Will provides the answer.
My mother died in 2001 without a will. I have two brothers, one has passed away. The property left without a will is located in Barneveld, NY. It is 5 acres. My brother who passed away was the executor of the estate. I asked him for years to give me my portion of the property or buy it from me. He... View More
answered on Sep 4, 2023
In NYS, if your mother died a widow and without a will, then your brother was never an executor. If he was an administrator recognized by the court there is a record of that in Surrogate's Court. If you are entitled to a share of the property in this if your mother died intestate (without a... View More
My mother died in 2001 without a will. I have two brothers, one has passed away. The property left without a will is located in Barneveld, NY. It is 5 acres. My brother who passed away was the executor of the estate. I asked him for years to give me my portion of the property or buy it from me. He... View More
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answered on Aug 21, 2023
Hire a NY attorney, not a title outfit. He will need to determine heirship, search the title, and ultimately determine who owns the tract. Who has been paying taxes? If not you, it may already be someone else's. Probate might be required, but probably heirship and/or taxes control... View More
My wife's dad passed in '95- there was no probate cause she thought he had no assets. Her mom recently passed & discover pat-gf left 2 properties in PR to her dad & his 6 siblings (gf passed '80). Have copy of will. Her dad was holdout on liquidating & apparently never... View More
answered on Aug 18, 2023
You will need to reach out to a lawyer in New York also authorizes to practice law in Puerto Rico or to an attorney in Puerto Rico.
Death bed and took the wife off, He's passed away,so do the wife still have rights. They was still married.
answered on Aug 24, 2023
Yes, in NY the spouse needs to file a claim aka a right of election within the statute of limitations period or be barred forever.
you cannot disinherit your spouse. In other words, under New York Probate law if you do not get along with your spouse, but choose to stay married, you cannot... View More
My mom is sociopath gold digger. She abused my dad 50 yrs resulting in his aphasia and dementia. Can my mom change my parents will to cut my young daughter out? My mom hates women and children, she is undiagnosed sociopath. How can I protect my daughter's inheritance from my Dad's side of... View More
answered on Jul 1, 2023
A person can always change their own will as long as they are of sound mind. Assuming your parents have separate wills and your father has dementia, his will likely can not be changed unless he does it himself while he is lucid.
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