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Hi,
I have a family member who's scared of being left without a home if her older husband passes away. She asked him about being included in the title, but the husband got strangely defensive about it and wanted to only keep his name on the title.
Where does that leave her?... View More 
answered on Nov 20, 2024
This is a complicated question. In situations like these, details make a difference. Please tell your friend to have a consultation with an Estate Planning attorney. Many of us will talk to you for free.
Here are a few issues that can come up:
Prenuptial Agreement: This is one way... View More
The loan? Is there any way that the statue of limitations has reached its expiration date since the loan is not in my name?
answered on Oct 21, 2024
It sounds like you're dealing with the process of managing ownership and financial responsibilities for a property following the passing of your mother. Here's a summary of the key points and steps you might consider:
1. **Determine Property Ownership:**
- Check if the... View More
My husband bought our home 2 years before we met. His kids are still listed as his beneficiaries on the house. If he dies before adding me to the title, can they kick me out of my home? We live in Utah and I want to know if I have any rights as his spouse.
answered on Aug 29, 2024
A surviving spouse can have rights under Utah state law, but those rights can also be given away. Prenuptial agreements and estate planning documents can make all the difference. In some cases your rights can give you a portion of the estate no matter what happens.
I encourage you to sit... View More
My dad passed away and prior to his passing, his condo burned down and needed rebuilt. Is there somewhere I can search to find the trust my dad said was set up? I don't have any idea who the trustee is or the executor of his will. I'm concerned his will was destroyed in the fire a year... View More
answered on Sep 3, 2024
The county recorder will have a record of the most recent deed on the property. This will show if the property is held in a Trust. If it is not in a Trust, you will need to go through Probate to transfer the property.
If you can't find a copy of the Trust, you may have to do a Probate... View More
Step stepfather had structured settlement payments that passed to my mother when he died. Her lawyer was her payee for those payments and now she has died. He sends me the monthly checks. My sister and I do not trust him and hired an estate planning attorney. He filed probate and put a creditor ad... View More
answered on Jun 10, 2024
Thank you for sharing your situation with me regarding the structured settlement payments that have passed on to your mother and are now distributed to you by her lawyer. I understand the concerns you and your sister have regarding the handling of these funds.
In terms of when you can start... View More
I am on SSI from the Social Security administration. I have a representative payee that's a company to receive my SSI and divvy it out to me on a regular basis. My payee issues me a weekly payment and has me use a debit card that I can use in the store or as an ATM. My payee is paid by... View More
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answered on May 17, 2024
It sounds like a frustrating situation. While representative payees have a lot of discretion in how they manage and distribute funds, they are supposed to act in the best interest of the beneficiary.
A few key points:
1. Payees should minimize fees when possible. If check printing... View More
My mom's revocable Trust was not notarized or recorded and no witnesses. My sister filled in the date with her handwriting but my mom was on a trip overseas with me on that date. Not sure when the Trust was actually signed but it was definitely not signed on the date next to the signature.... View More
answered on May 8, 2024
Hey there,
I completely understand your concerns about the date next to the signature on your mom's Trust document. While it may not automatically invalidate the Trust, it does open up the possibility of scrutiny and potential challenges in the future. It's definitely something to... View More
answered on Apr 22, 2024
In Utah, there is no set percentage for what a nonprofessional (family member) trustee can charge a family trust. Compensation is typically based on what is reasonable given the duties performed, the time involved, and the complexity of the trust administration. The trust document may specify the... View More
She was always nervous could never be alone from age 2. She sighned that not knowing what it meant. He can sell everything including the home property everything inside and out. Mom wouldn’t have willing do this we need help please.
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answered on Feb 25, 2024
If the attorney serving as the executor of your mother's will is acting in a manner that raises concerns, beneficiaries do have options. Generally, an executor can be removed by the court for valid reasons such as mismanagement of estate assets, failure to comply with the will's terms, or... View More
I wasn't notified when my father passed on. My father's favorite 2 children are still living, no contact. He didn't want 3rd girl, my other siblings both died in their 40's, medical issues. My father said way back he had a trust & I was on it but later returned to his... View More
answered on Jan 22, 2024
I understand your concerns regarding your father's family trust and the uncertainty surrounding your inclusion in it. Trusts are indeed private documents, and it can be challenging to ascertain whether you are a beneficiary without direct communication from the trustee.
To begin your... View More
Is creating a trust the best option to protect my assets before a divorce in Utah? If yes, should I have my trust before or after the divorce? What options I have to minimize the loss of my assets in Utah?
answered on Nov 17, 2023
If you are already married, the only way a Trust might help is if both of you sign an irrevocable trust, permanently giving up your asset. For example, the irrevocable trust could give the asset to your children. Once you both sign it, you no longer have control over the asset, so neither of you... View More
How do I go about getting my name added to the house
answered on Sep 25, 2023
The answer depends on a few things:
1- Were they listed as joint tenants or something else?
2- Did he leave a surviving spouse? In Utah, a surviving spouse will inherit everything if all of the children of the decedent are also children of the surviving spouse. If the surviving... View More
In Utah this is important because anything inherited by my stepmother through joint tenancy offsets what she would inherit of my father's other assets that were solely in his name.
answered on Nov 14, 2022
You should look to the operating agreement (if there is one) to see how the decedent member's interest is handled. If there isn't one, then an LLC interest is considered personal property and if acquired during marriage would be considered as being held in joint tenancy.
I hope... View More
My husband, myself, our 2 daughters, and another person are beneficiaries. The supposed trustee is an unlicensed attorney in Guam who is represented by my brothers former law partner. And that guy says we cannot communicate with the trustee at all, but just go through him (the former law partner of... View More
answered on Oct 19, 2022
Great question! Seeing red flags in a situation like this makes one wonder if your assets are safe.
If your case were in Utah, I could tell you that any time a person has questions or concerns about a trustee of a Trust, they can require that the Trust be overseen by a probate judge.... View More
The husband might even be willing to sign an Affidavit giving her son the inheritance?
answered on Aug 12, 2022
Hello,
The best thing to do would be to talk with an attorney. By statute, you cannot disinherit your spouse without their permission. I would encourage your mother to get a post-nuptial agreement and then engage in estate planning. I would normally recommend that she set up a trust so... View More
2 rental properties in Utah in which I am the sole owner, I reside in WA. I formulated an LLC in Utah but never used it \. Would like to reuse that LLC but the address is under a former business partners address that lived in Utah. I am now sole owner of LLC. I already have a seperate bank... View More
answered on Mar 21, 2022
Best practice is to set up an LLC where the real estate is located. We can update addresses and registered agents as well as ownership information in order to bring your business information current.
If you don't have the LLC in the same state as your real estate you will often have... View More
My 19 year old son's father died 8 days ago, and the mother of the deceased has self-appointed herself executor and claims that the assets need to go to her because her son borrowed money and never repaid her. There was no legal contract for this supposed debt, but she is already trying to... View More
answered on Feb 24, 2022
If your son wants to assert his authority as personal representative of his father's estate, then he can do so through a probate process. I have pasted the relevant code section below. In addition, if your son doesn't want to do it, he can nominate you serve as his father's... View More
Father put house into trust with me and sister as trustees and now has passed. There is income paid to the house so it pays the mortgage $500 in $500 out. Does the house count it as income or would me and my sister take care of it on our taxes? The trust has an IEN tax number already?
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answered on Feb 13, 2022
You need to review this with a CPA, but most likely the trust became irrevocable when your father died and is, therefore, a separate taxpayer that is now obligated to file annual income tax returns the same as you are. As such, the income "belongs" to the trust and is reportable on its... View More
My mother in law passed away January 2021 and the executor has still not completed anything. Her house sold in October of 2021 and he said it'll be done soon. Checked in with him in December and he said "well, we have to give a couple of people small amounts of money that she... View More
answered on Feb 10, 2022
Hello,
I am sorry for your plight. If this is in Utah and it is a Will, then your husband as a beneficiary is entitled to a copy of the will. Legally they are and the PR / Executor has to give him a copy as well as the inventory when it is completed. The only real stick you have in order to... View More
My ex wife passed away and our 10 year old daughter is the beneficiary on her life insurance policy. In order to get a lump sum payment, State Farm Insurance is requiring me to provide a Certified Copy of the Court Order and Letters of Guardianship of the minor’s estate. I shared custody of my... View More
answered on Feb 3, 2022
I believe what you actually need is a conservatorship. You are already the child's guardian by virtue of your status as surviving parent.
Be forewarned: as conservator, you will be responsible to the Court for every cent in your daughter's account. You may only spend funds from... View More
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