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answered on Sep 22, 2021
There no law that requires you to update any of your estate planning documents when you move from one state to another, but it is always a good idea to at least have them reviewed by an estate planning attorney in the state to which you have moved.
With him at time of death. Can’t locate a Will. His girlfriend is making it seem like she doesn’t want me to look through anything or take anything. What rights do I have and she have? She still at his house.
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answered on Sep 13, 2021
Absent a will that leaves things to her, your dad's girlfriend has no rights. You need to hire a probate attorney right away to get a probate case started in order to transfer assets to your dad's heirs, his children. The court-appointed executor may also need to hire an eviction... View More 
Father had added a Memorandum of Tangible Personal Property to his will 11 years after he did his revocable trust agreement. The memorandum meets all the requirements: hand written, dated, and clearly understood. It is also mentioned in his original trust.
This was shown to the estate... View More
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answered on Sep 5, 2021
There are some things that can be passed by memorandum and some that can't. Also, the items need to be in the trust in order to pass by memorandum referred to in the trust. You might think about taking all of the documentation that you have to another attorney for a second opinion.
I’m her only child, she’s been divorced for 30
Years. She lived with me the last 8 months for health reasons. The checks are all under $100 like from xfinity and insurance and apartment deposit. How do I cash them? Is there a form I can get to show along with her death certificate?
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answered on Aug 27, 2021
If the checks add up to less than $10,000, and if there are no other assets in the estate and no probate has been opened, then you can try waiting 90 from date of death and then approach your bank about negotiating the checks to you as the next of kin pursuant to TCA 45-2-711 or TCA 45-3-524.
Father passed 16 years ago. His will stated the home is to be left to mother, then following her death, the property is to be split between 4 adult children - 3 father's biological, 1 mother's biological. The deed is in mother's name and she has maintained the property solely.... View More
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answered on Jul 20, 2021
It is not possible to answer your question without actually seeing your father's will and also reviewing the probate case, if there was one. It would also be necessary to review a limited chain of title to see how title ended up in your mother's name. You should take all of this... View More
Now the person is in their 40’s claiming to be a biological child and got a post death DNA test.
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answered on Jul 6, 2021
TCA 36-1-121(e) provides:
An adopted child shall not inherit real or personal property from a biological parent or relative thereof when the relationship between them has been terminated by final order of adoption, nor shall such biological parent or relative thereof inherit from the... View More
mother had a will leaving everything to my husband and his sister who died 30 yrs ago with no heirs of her own. there is a house and 2 small lots in Arizona, plus an older minivan, checking account and savings account. we gathered death certificates for his dad, sister, and mom and tried to file... View More
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answered on Jun 28, 2021
Yes, probate is how wills are administered. That said, a whole lot more information is needed to determine exactly which probate process(es) is/are needed and in which state(s). If the decedent had real property in multiple states, for example, you might need a probate attorney in each state.
What's a notice by publication.
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answered on Jun 26, 2021
Notice by publication serves to give the person notified notice of the matter or proceeding when the party pursuing the matter isn't certain that they have the correct mailing or service address of someone. It sounds like you have received both actual notice and notice by publication (which... View More
Father left house to one of his kids and lifetime residence to spouse via a will to avoid probate. Assets on the property were not addressed in the will. Lawyer said assets do not belong to the child who inherited the house and should be divided amongst spouse and other children. Is this correct?
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answered on Jun 15, 2021
If the Will is not probated, it has no effect. And the purported Will probably does address both real and personal property. Without the Will being probated, the Heirs At Law own the real property and the Next of Kin (same as heirs) own the personal property. With no Will, the Heirs are all... View More
I live in FL. My father is moving from FL to TN. I know upon his death I must file the form to name the Sec of State to receive legal notices. My question is about "CO-Executor".
1. Can I name this Co-Executor AFTER my father passes or is it required to be named in the... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2021
There is no requirement for a Co-Executor in Tennessee. A non-resident may serve solo as Executor as long as he or she, as you are already aware, designates the Secretary of State to receive legal notices.
My father and I are on a relative's deed, who since passed, as Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship. If we sell the property, is it required that the proceeds of the property sale be split amongst the co-tenants 50/50?
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answered on Jun 8, 2021
Usually both owners want to get paid. If you and your Father have another arrangement, that is your business. But if I represent the seller, there will be one check with both owners as payees. If you Father wants to convey his interest to you prior to the sale, then he can do so or vice versa.
Grandmother did not owe any bills and her house was paid for. The house was never transferred to my mothers name. I have paid the taxes on it for years. Now my mother is in bad health. Should we put the house in my mothers name now or will it pass to me upon her passing? Thank you.
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answered on May 17, 2021
You must determine who the owner is right now first. A title search and an heirship determination will be in order. Then you and the Mother might seek counsel about Estate Planning. Remember the longer you wait, the chances of judgment liens become more pronounced.
after death of parent, my brother, who was an equal owner, under joint tenants with right of survivorship has refused to provide access or keys to the property, which has been co-owned since April, 1994. He is now attempting to make me pay for expenses for that property.
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answered on May 17, 2021
If in fact you are a joint tenant with your brother, then you may wish to help pay for the taxes, insurance, etc. Somebody has to, or the Trustee will sell it for taxes. You may wish to hire an attorney to file a Petition in Chancery for a Sale for Partition. Also you two could buy each... View More
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answered on May 3, 2021
A will cannot be changed after the testator passes. And, in any event, powers of attorney automatically expire/terminate at death.
My uncle recently passed away, and left all tangible personal property to his partner, then split the residue between several people. As executor, I need to know if the account goes to his partner, or distributed to the others. Thanks.
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answered on Apr 29, 2021
A bank account is not tangible personal property. Tangible personal property is things that you can touch, feel, pick up and move, such as furniture, artwork, clothing, tools, that sort of thing.
Live in Tennessee.
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answered on Apr 25, 2021
More facts, including review of the will, are required to answer your question, but if what you say is true, this can probably be handled with an affidavit and a relatively simple court filing, both of which get recorded in the land records. A probate attorney can help you with this.
My father's will states that his girlfriend and her grandson can continue living in the home after his death. It also states that the house is left 50% to me and 50% to his girlfriends grandson. I live in the state of Tennessee it is start anything I can do after his death and contest it and... View More
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answered on Apr 26, 2021
File a muniment of title with the will. Change title and eject the girlfriend. The will control over anything told to the girlfriend.
My father had a life insurance policy with prudential that named my mother as primary beneficiary and me and my brother as contingent beneficiaries. My parents passed from covid within 22 hours of each other. My father passed 1st and my mother 2nd surviving him by 22 hours on a ventilator. After... View More
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answered on Apr 25, 2021
You are correct on both accounts. If your mom did not survive your dad by at least 120 hours, then she is deemed to have predeceased him. That would leave his children as the sole heirs of his estate (having died without a will). The insurance proceeds should be paid to you and your other... View More
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answered on Apr 23, 2021
Yes, of course. You are a free agent. You can fire your existing attorney and hire another to pick up where the other left off. Just understand that you might end up paying more in the long run because the second attorney will have to take some time getting up to speed.
Which is being administered by fifth third bank in Illinois. Mother has questions about the trust, and wants to know if she should hire a attorney in Tennessee or Illinois.
answered on Apr 21, 2021
My condolences for your loss. The trust itself should define what State's laws it follows. The trustee should provide a copy of the trust to your Mom. Likely you will find the trust says it follows Illinois law.
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