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Arkansas Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My friend's mother died without a will. She is an only child. What does she need to do to have the deed put in her name?

My friend is an adult. Her mother was a widow, and they lived together. As for the house, it's worth less than $75,000.

Ryan Zapalac
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Ryan Zapalac
answered on May 23, 2023

Generally, when there is no Will, you must go through some sort of probate administration whereby the heirs of the deceased are judicially determined and a personal representative is appointed. However, several states have a process available to assist those smaller estates that may not need... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Mom passed away 2019.I bought & occupied home from her & took over mtg pmts 2006.Never transferred ownership.What to do?

My home burnt down in 2021, at which time the executor entered her will in probate.The fire ins policy was made out to mom & estate.My brother, executor of estate, acknowledges the proceeds go to me, but he says he has to pay moms back taxes out of fire ins proceeds before I get my money.Can... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst
answered on Jan 18, 2023

Hire a probate attorney to probate your mom's estate and explain this to him or her and provide your evidence. You would essentially be making a claim against the estate to honor the contractual agreement.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: What inheritance rights does one have if your civil partner dies.

Person lived with partner for 14 years but never married.

Donna Branch
Donna Branch
answered on Aug 15, 2022

More details would be needed because this is not a clear cut answer. I can say Arkansas does not recognize common law marriage. However, I wouldn't give up just yet. It depends on when the property was acquired (during the 14 years or after). Did your partner have a will? Do your partner have... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My dad passed away without a will,not married ,and I'm the only child his girlfriend will not give me his things?
Anthony M. Avery
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Anthony M. Avery
answered on Mar 27, 2023

What did your Father die owning? You are probably the Heir and Next of Kin, but if there is little property, then Administrating his Estate with Letters is a waste of time. If there is property, hire a competent AZ attorney to represent you.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Probate and Real Estate Law for Arkansas on
Q: How to transfer land title ownership when owner passed 30 yrs prior without will and no probate in Arkansas

Hi my grandmother passed away back in 1993. My father her eldest son moved in her home and lived there for 24-25 yrs until his death in 2014. He never probated property due to being unable to locate her will. However, the whole time he lived on property he did perform upgrades by adding a pond and... Read more »

Anthony M. Avery
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Anthony M. Avery
answered on Apr 11, 2022

You will need to hire an attorney to determine Heirship as the Heirs own the land a Tenants In Common. Then an Affidavit of Heirship will need to be recorded. And someone still needs to pay taxes.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: Must I draft a new will after moving to another state?

I am a widow with one adult child. I recently moved from Michigan to Arkansas to be near my daughter. I have a will that was filled in Michigan which leaves everything to my daughter. Since I have sold my home in Michigan and purchased a new home in Arkansas, must I have my will rewritten? And is... Read more »

Randy Bryan Ligh
Randy Bryan Ligh
answered on Dec 17, 2021

You do not have to have a new will however if you have the time and resources, and depending on when you executed your current will and the age of your daughter, I do not think it hurts to contact an Arkansas attorney to discuss your concerns and get your questions answered. Good luck.

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Estate Planning and Insurance Bad Faith for Arkansas on
Q: My mom passed away in June and incurred 250,000 dollars in medical debt. If I'm making payments can they take my home?

My mom passed away from cirrosis in June and the insurance company denied her claim. Since then My step-dad was trying to be in control of paying the medical bills but he is elderly and received a collection notice from one doctor which means he's missed some of the bills. I'm the... Read more »

Brandon M Haubert
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Brandon M Haubert
answered on Nov 30, 2021

You need to discuss your options with an Arkansas probate lawyer. Your mother's estate may be insolvent and the bills may not need to be paid. The house may be protected depending on how it was titled. You need to discuss your options with a lawyer. You probably are not liable for any of the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: Does a trust have to be funded? If so why and how?

Generally does a irrevocable trust have to be funded

I didn't find anything while research to do one

Thank ypu

Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst
answered on Nov 30, 2021

There is no law that obligates the creator of an irrevocable trust to put anything in it, but A trust with nothing in it is a waste of effort. Creating and finding irrevocable trust or not do it yourself projects. You really should hire an experienced estate planning attorney to help you with... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Collections, Elder Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My grandfather passed away last year. My mother is executor of his estate. My grandmother is alive. He had a will.

I was supposed to receive an inheritance. My mother claims that I cannot receive that until my grandmother passes away. My brother received a new truck and boat that I’m aware of. Is she lying to me ? I have a distant relationship with my mom, but it just seems as though she is flat out lying to... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst
answered on Nov 26, 2021

You can take a look at the will yourself. Go to the probate court and request a copy.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: I live in Arkansas. I signed an irrevocable trust but it is not funded. Can I start over with another lawyer?

The reason is because I do not like the wording of the current trust.

Dustin A. Duke
Dustin A. Duke
answered on Nov 17, 2021

If it was never funded, unless there is something in the document or another document that compels you to fund it, then yes you can create a new trust. Depending on your situation and the language of the current trust, it may be able to be amended as well.

3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: What does it mean when a realtor says the estate hired them to sell my house
Nina Whitehurst
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Nina Whitehurst
answered on Nov 11, 2021

It probably means that you do not own the home. It is owned by the estate of someone who has passed and either his or her will requires the house to be sold or it needs to be sold to pay his or her debts. A local probate attorney can help you with this.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Civil Litigation and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: If a couple bought a house 34 years ago and husband died 33 years ago. The wife never remarried. Is it her house?

The husband did not have a will. And it never went through probate. But she never took his name off of the house. The wife recently died with one surviving son, who has and was living in the house for 27 out of 34 years. And now the husband's children want there part of the house. She also... Read more »

Anthony M. Avery
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Anthony M. Avery
answered on Aug 17, 2021

More than likely the wife took the fee as the surviving tenant by the entirety, which would mean her heirs own it as tenants in common. But it all depends on what estate was created when they purchased it. Hire a competent AR attorney to search the title.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Wife not beneficiary on husbands ESOP, can she challenge it?

My mother isn't listed as a beneficiary on my deceased father's ESOP, as stated by the company. Before he passed he told her that she was over everything. The company has not been very straightforward with us and she wants to try to challenge the beneficiary designation.Is there a certain... Read more »

Dustin A. Duke
Dustin A. Duke
answered on Aug 8, 2021

More information is needed in order to fully answer your question. However, if there is no beneficiary listed on the account, and the company has no policy to the contrary, then the assets would go into your father's probate estate and would need to be probated before they can be distributed... Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: Is it legal for an agent of a poa to transfer the principals real estate or personal property into his or her own name.
Theodore David Vicknair Sr.
Theodore David Vicknair Sr.
answered on Jul 22, 2021

I think this will depend on two things. First, whether the law of your state (Arkansas) permits this in certain cases, and Second, whether the POA specifically permits this.

In my state of Louisiana, it specifically states that "self-serving gifts" must be specifically allowed...
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2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning and Health Care Law for Arkansas on
Q: If a power of attorney is only good for financials in my state what do I need for healthcare decisions?

I’m an only child and my mother is widowed/not remarried. She is a type 2 diabetic with chronic related health issues due to noncompliance with her meds and eating habits.

Theodore David Vicknair Sr.
Theodore David Vicknair Sr.
answered on Jul 18, 2021

A "Health-Care Power of Attorney" is what you need and it is specifically authorized in statute by most states. It should be HIPAA compliant, and cover any and all medical prodedures and contingencies.

A "Health Care Directive" or "Living Will" is a narrower...
Read more »

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: My mother had a revocable trust listing only myself as beneficiary, but having issues transferring assets.

How do i transfer the titles of her assets; homestead, bank accounts, etc. Some titles have transferred (automatically?) , but some have not. I thought probate court was avoided by having a rev. trust. Any help would be appreciated.

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst
answered on May 19, 2021

Assets that were in the trust when she died pass according to the terms of the trust. Assets that were not in the trust pass according to the terms of the will using the probate process. What you seem to have is a partially unfounded trust, which is less than ideal because it does not completely... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: Can the beneficiaries of a will move the deceased’s items to a storage facility until the small affidavit can be filed?

The home, in Poinsett County, is not in a safe area and the attorney that wrote the will already told us we need to remove anything valuable and put it in a safe place (people are already breaking in and stealing items). We would not be prematurely splitting assets - only moving them to a secure... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst
answered on Jan 15, 2021

You have already obtained sound legal advice.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Arkansas on
Q: What are the options for overriding a power of attorney?

Power of attorney is the principles sister. She has completely gone above and beyond morally. Principle had surgery to see how far colon cancer has spread, he verbally told his daughter (a roommate) that her aunt will keep them posted about his surgery. Surgery was on 1/12/2021 and from that time... Read more »

Nina Whitehurst
PREMIUM
Nina Whitehurst
answered on Jan 14, 2021

You might have to go to court to have a guardian appointed for this individual. Guardianship will override (revoke) the power of attorney.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Land Use & Zoning for Arkansas on
Q: Do I need my husbands signature to sell land that is in both our names?
Steven J. Fromm
Steven J. Fromm
answered on Nov 20, 2020

Yes, indeed. If the current deed has both of your names as owners then you must have him sign any deed transferring ownership to a buyer. Arkansas may allow a power of attorney to sign for him but you need to speak to a real estate attorney in your state to see if this is possible.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Arkansas on
Q: Can a Grantor on a quitclaim deed also be the Grantee?

My father died without a will and my Sister and I are the only heirs. We have filed for collection of small estate and our 90 days are up. One of the properties is still in my great aunt and her partner's name and has passed through a couple of family members that were ill and was never deeded... Read more »

Paul Dumas
Paul Dumas
answered on Nov 18, 2020

Sounds like you have a complex title issue that needs to be reviewed by a competent attorney or title company. Your question simply doesn’t provide the information necessary to give you an accurate answer.

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