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Tennessee Estate Planning Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: probate issue. Wife is on banking account with her father who recently passed away. She had right of survivorship.

Question is can her stupid brother who now wants everything and who did nothing have any claim to this moneyy to cover probate and fiduicary fees.

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Nov 16, 2018

Based on your question ( that she had survivorship rights) - NO, these funds are not part of the estate.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: Can I petition to be executor of my deceased step-grandpas estate? A will hasn’t been located

He married my granny who died 3yr ago. Both told the immediate family they wanted me as executor. My grandpa had no children of his own, no siblings, and his parents are deceased. We have been unable to contact any remote relatives. They have real estate that has been in my granny’s family for... View More

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Oct 31, 2018

Any interested adult person can serve as an administrator- it is usually a family member and there is a state statute which sets a priority, but it since he has no close relatives, the Court would likely choose you since you are willing to volunteer for the job. The job has some responsibility and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: my mother has me on the deed of her home. It is in my old name. She wants the deed changed to reflect my new name.

Is this necessary? Just her and I are on the deed. She doesnt want any trouble for me when she passes. Would a quitclaim be sufficient? My old name is on her will as well. She does have a POA with my new name....We are not sure what the consequences are with having my old name on her will and deed.... View More

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Oct 24, 2018

There are no consequences and it I snot necessary to incur any expense for a "new" deed. The only possible issue is identification, or in other words, can you prove that you are the same person named in the deed?

I suspect you can. People get married and change their names all...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Tennessee on
Q: Want to sell my house but I have tenants with no written agreement.Can I evict them?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 12, 2018

Unless they have been there for three years you should have no problems filing a Detainer Warrant against them. You should give them notice that you want them out thirty days from your next rent payment. If there is a Security Deposit, have it ready to be returned upon your receiving the keys.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: What happens if I as a beneficiary refused to sign off on probate?
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 12, 2018

More than likely the Administrator will have to file an Accounting which shows the Court all of the Assets that came into his hands, all his Disbursements, and his proposed Distributions. If the Court orders the Distributions as proposed, your approval is not required to Close the Estate.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: My uncle died in January in Tennessee. He never married or had kids. How do I find out who his assets went to?
Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Oct 1, 2018

I would start by checking the local probate records in the county where he resided at the time of this death. If he made a will, that should be filed there and even if he did not have a will, there would be a record of the administration of his estate in that county.

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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: My father created a will. A year later he was married. In Tennessee, is a will valid after marriage?

Also, he went to his lawyer and was in the process of canceling the existing will and get a new one and unfortunately passed away before it could be completed. Lawyer claims he did not finish the process. Can the new wife contest the will?

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Sep 28, 2018

Most likely - yes. Depending on the length of time they were married, a surviving spouse has certain rights to inherit ( elective share, years support, exempt Property) and a full discussion of those rights is beyond the scope of this question -answer format. You should consult an experienced... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Can an only-child who moved in with her parents, now deceased, continue to live in house and pay parent's mortgage?

She moved into her parent's house a few years ago to help them in their elderly years. She is an only child. They eventually moved into assisted living and recently deceased. Can she just continue to pay her parents mortgage with no further action needed?

I found this below:... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 24, 2018

The Daughter does not want to be personally liable for the Note and Deed of Trust. She takes subject to the Debt as the Heir-At-Law, but she never becomes a party to the Secured Loan unless she assumes it. Additionally she is not personally liable for Taxes. But if the Note, Taxes or Insurance... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: In the State of TN, can one Durable Power of Attorney cover both financial and medical decisions?
Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Sep 12, 2018

It is possible- but the medical power of attorney has additional requirements: witnesses and a signed disclaimer/notice. Most lawyers use two documents so it's likely that medical personnel will be most familiar with a separate form. If you don't want a hassell, it's probably... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: My mother is in hospice right now with weeks to live. She has a will but has not signed it? How do we move forward?

We have a POA and executor of estate. The home is worth less then 50k. How do we prevent Indiana, Allen county probate taking over?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 10, 2018

Whether her property is in Tennessee or not is important. Whatever the case, it may be prudent for her to Deed her real property to whoever she wants to have it at her death. It can be a Life Estate/Remainder Deed. If MediCaid is involved then you probably need a lawyer to construe it as... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: If my mom co-signed on a mortgage for her granddaughter and she passes, could the mortgage company get her house?

My mom did a quit claim deed for her own house for me and my other two sisters but she has now signed for her granddaughter to get a house and she is co-signor. What can I do? I have Power of Attorney. Is there anyway I can get her off the granddaughters mortgage? Will we lose the house if she... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 20, 2018

If she signed the Note, then she is jointly and severally liable for the loan, and you cannot remove her contractual obligation. Her dying is not a Default on the Note, but nonpayment and other requirements are. If the Note goes in Default the Lender will probably sue Granddaughter and the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Can an estate close without the atty having the inventory sheet from the executor

the house closed on Aug 20 and as of yet we dont have our money and it was a cash sale. the atty originally said he had been too busty to file the the papers to close and release the money but once we mention getting another atty (he has been questionable since the beginning) he SUDDENLY accused me... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 7, 2018

The inventory was supposed to have been filed with the Probate Court within 60 days of opening the Estate. There are numerous requirements for Probate and I would guess that many have not been met. It does not appear the Estate is ready for a Distribution as apparently there is no Order to do so.... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: To put my house into a living trust, do I need to actually change the deed to"as trustee of 'my name'"
Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Sep 3, 2018

You need to hire a competent attorney to draft such a conveyance into Trust. Hopefully he will explain what a Trust is, as well as the alternative Future Interest Deeds such as a Life Estate/Remainder Deed. The Lawyer can determine the exact name of the Grantee Trustee.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: am I legally required to be given details of a trust?

I was contacted by a woman claiming to be a distant relative asking for contact info for my cousins and myself claiming to be trustee to a trust my great grandmother set up before her death 20 or so years ago to be distributed upon my great grandfathers death. I contacted the law office I know is... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 31, 2018

You have no legal right to be informed of the Trust by the Trustee. But it is the Trustee's duty to administer the Trust. If you feel you are a Beneficiary and the Trustee is not performing properly, you can sue in Chancery to Construe (and possibly Execute) the Trust. Venue could be a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Tennessee on
Q: If someone becomes heir to the estate based on saying the will was torn prior to death.

Does anyone have to witness that a will was torn or does the court just take the word of the person and this makes will void and next of kin gets everything? Seems to me that one could be not truthful if no witness of deceased tearing up the Will.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 27, 2018

Has someone Probated the Will? If not then this issue never comes up. If there is a Probate, you can file a Contest. If there is an Administration, you might try to Probate the torn Will and let them contest it. If the Will is not Probated, it will never have any effect.

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law, Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: Sole owner of 100% Shares of active TN Corporation died with will leaving 50% shares to employee/manager & 50% shares

to daughter for 5 years. After 5 years, daughters' 50% shares to be given to employee/manager. His will named employee as CEO & daughter as Secretary. Who owns the C Corporation? Who is entitled to the financial Corporate assets? Daughter also named as Executor but cleared money out of... View More

Stefan Dunkelgrun
Stefan Dunkelgrun
answered on Aug 24, 2018

For the next 5 years, employee/manager and daughter/secretary each own 50% of the company. What powers they have over the assets depends on the corporate documents.

In 5 years, the daughter's interest will terminate and the employee/manager will own 100% of the company. The daughter...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: I am preparing my Last Will and Testament. I desire to bequeath my real estate property to my two children as "JOINT

Tenants", not as "Co-Tenants" / Tenancy-in-Common. I often see Joint Tenancy specified as JTWROS (Joint Tenancy with Rights of Survivorship). My question is this: In the state of Tennessee, can I specify "Joint Tenancy" WITHOUT Rights of Survivorship?

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Aug 21, 2018

These terms can be confusing and tricky, often leading to possible mistakes. If I understand your question, co-tenants or tenants in common would be the same thing as joint tenants WITHOUT survivorship rights. ( the situation when one co-owner dies, his/her share of the property is inherited by his... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: How do I gain control of my Mother’s care when my stepdad is not providing adequate care?

My mother has Alzheimer’s and her husband, my step dad is her primary care giver. He won’t let anyone else in the house and it’s obvious she needs more than he can provide but he won’t relent. Is there a way to gain custody or at least control of health care decisions without her... View More

Robert D. Kreisman
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Robert D. Kreisman
answered on Aug 14, 2018

In most states the avenue to take is in the probate court where you would petition the court to appoint you as guardian of the estate and person of your mother. You would most likely be required to present a Physician's Report that would identify specifically the medical condition that would... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Tennessee on
Q: My grandparents will has been through probate. It's been going on 5 plus years. How do I go about collecting my part?

My uncle keeps giving me excuse after excuse. Now he is telling me trusts has to be set up. He also has been spending funds for the past 5 years illegally. He has had to sell houses to pay taxes and enough money to pay everyone else. That's the reason its in the mess its its in thanks in advance.

Leonard Robert Grefseng
Leonard Robert Grefseng
answered on Aug 9, 2018

The executor can be removed and replaced if he/she is not doing the job properly. It sounds like enough time has passed, but every estate is different and some can be very complex. to remove him, you must prove to the court that the has spent funds improperly. If there is a large amount of money... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Tennessee on
Q: Whether a beneficiary can sell rights of remainder interest while life estate exist ?
Stefan Dunkelgrun
Stefan Dunkelgrun
answered on Aug 7, 2018

Quick Answer: Yes

there is no such thing as a "beneficiary" of a life estate.

A life estate creates a present property right in a future ownership interest. It's like splitting the property in half, but instead of one person getting the left half and the other the...
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