Get free answers to your Estate Planning legal questions from lawyers in your area.
How can I protect my separate assets (cash, savings, car) from my spouse’s potential future debt claims (IRS seizure, collection lawsuits from business and credit card creditors)? Divorce is not anticipated. This is in Colorado.
answered on Jan 25, 2023
This can be a tricky question, and it is my understanding that the answer may vary for different purposes, so it would be wise to also get opinions from a bankruptcy attorney and a tax attorney as well. This answer is going to be from an estate planning and family/divorce perspective. I do not... View More 
My father passed away and most of his debt is in his name only. There was no will and the only evidence I have is my mom listed as the beneficiary for both his life insurance and retirement plan. Is that money safe or can creditors take from there? What about their house, is that at stake with... View More
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answered on Jan 16, 2023
Allot of this really depends. If I recall, If the debt is solely in your father’s name, I would think his estate would be liable for the debt. If the debt was in both your mother and father’s name, then you mother could be jointly liable. If the debt was attached to a security interest such as... View More
Her recovery is not going well and she might not leave the hospital. As the executor do I have a fiduciary responsibility to file a claim with the building owner's insurance company to protect her estate from the mounting medical bills?
answered on Dec 28, 2022
First, I am very sorry to hear this happened to your mother. That is a difficult situation, even without the legal implications.
At this time, it is important to keep track of legal roles. An executor, or personal representative, does not have any duties until the person has passed.... View More
Does a Trust need to be created to to have the house transferred to his name? At one point she sold her house without any knowledge of what she did, but we were able to get it reversed given elder abuse from a realtor.
answered on Dec 27, 2022
You don't mention whether your mother-in-law resides in Colorado. The following answer presumes that she does. If she lives in another state, an attorney in that state should be consulted to learn the proper procedure there. If your mother-in-law is no longer capable of making rational... View More
What do I do? No one seems to want to help me. Will was redone misspelling my father's name. This was done 3 months before he died at 82 with a brain tumor 3 other forms of cancer with radiation treatments. Found out there was a reverse mortgage put on the house for $1,140,600. On October 20,... View More
answered on Dec 1, 2022
You need to call an attorney to protect your rights. Attorneys in Burg Simpson’s commercial litigation department may be able to help. Additionally, attorneys who litigate probate cases involving estate planning/wills/trusts may be able to help. Bottom line: you should call an attorney.... View More
When my dad was in the hospital, she would not let us see him to say goodbye and claims that he told her that his children and grandchildren get nothing, I finally received the family photo albums with missing pictures. She had only been married for 10 years and she even took the military flag... View More
answered on Nov 21, 2022
I'm sorry to hear of your loss and the difficult position you are in regarding your father's estate. Your question did not mention your jurisdiction or if there was a Will. In most states a Will is given priority for how personal property (the flag, jewelry, furniture, photos, etc.) and... View More
Acting as Durable POA for my incapacitated father, (with no limitations at all) - him being grantor of 1/2 a living trust within the family, I have been rejected 90% of the time I make a decision "as if I were him". Trustee will not respond to me at all or respect any of my father's final wishes
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answered on Oct 20, 2022
I think you need to determine if the trust is revocable or irrevocable. If it is an irrevocable living trust then you may not have the authority to do anything as that authority may rest with the trust administrator. I am in no way an expert in trusts but you may be able to find some information... View More
I have trust land and the tribes want to buy my interest and conveyance for something
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answered on Oct 19, 2022
Afternoon,
I think you need to get in touch with an attorney specializing in Indian law for your specific tribe. I used to work in oil and gas in a none legal capacity and know there are different levels of ownership within the tribe. I think it would depend if you are an owner, have a... View More
The women he was living with says common law wife and wants half of the estate, can she do this?
answered on Oct 18, 2022
A Colorado attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. Your question probably went unnoticed under this general heading. You could try reposting under the "Probate" and "Estate Planning" headings. If still no response, you could reach out to law... View More
My brother lives in the house. I want him and my sister to be co-owners . How do I get out of this situation the simplest way possible. Am willing to sell it to my sister for $1.00 or whatever is required.
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answered on Oct 3, 2022
You need to talk to an attorney ASAP. Believe it or not, you may be in a really good situation since you all currently agree. Once, everyone disagrees it becomes a nightmare.
If you want off the property, you may be able to sell or gift your interest to them. Either way, you want a... View More
this is a revocable trust however it says only irreevocable trusts must be registered with the county
answered on Sep 15, 2022
Your revocable trust does not need to be recorded or registered anywhere. There used to be a statute, that has since been revoked, that required irrevocable trusts to be recorded. This is no longer a requirement.
Upon a Trustors death, during administration, there may be a need to file the... View More
I am executor of my mom's will/trust. One of two siblings has left the state and possibly the country, and there is no communication on his part, despite our family's efforts. What must I do to satisfy Colorado's requirements to notify him and escrow inheritance? How long must I wait... View More
answered on Sep 11, 2022
As a general rule in Colorado, C.R.S. § 15-12-705 sets the expectations for notifying a beneficiary or likely heir to an estate. The code states, in part, "the information shall be delivered or sent by ordinary mail to each of the heirs and devisees whose address is reasonably available to... View More
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answered on Aug 26, 2022
I agree with Ms. Whitehurst. A POA can grant different levels of authority. Some POAs may permit the user to take financial action while others may not.
She has died in Oregon where that is not a sufficient will, and requires an Affidavit of Witness/Genuine Sig. Since the attorney who witnessed has died and I can't locate the notary (may also be gone, since it was 1998), is there any way to track down legal records/proof from a now-closed law... View More
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answered on Aug 24, 2022
Contact a competent OR attorney and see if Probate is needed, and if so, whether the alleged Will would make a difference. If necessary, you may be able to Probate somewhere the Will is valid. But most likely she will die intestate, probate or not.
His son is already dad's personal rep.. Dad told him he didn't want him to be his rep. And dad said another nephew would be acceptable. I got court papers from utah.
answered on Jul 26, 2022
In Colorado, the most common ways to be personal representative ("PR") for the estate of someone that passed away are (1) to be nominated as PR in the will, or (2) to be a relative of the deceased person who applies to be PR.
In the first method, the will might name a PR and... View More
Can someone in Colorado who is a financial POA with no restrictions contact the principal's insurance company to find out if the principal has paid their premiums?
answered on Apr 13, 2022
In Colorado, a general power of attorney (PAO) gives broad powers to the "agent" allowing the agent to do things on behalf of the "principal". Common tasks are financial transactions, real estate transactions, paying bills, opening mail, and signing documents. The agent only has... View More
My husband passed away in November of 2021. When he died he left everything to me, which included 5 income properties, 2 businesses and several antique vehicles. I need to do a will for myself now. I have 2 daughters, but one of my daughters is living on public assistance and she’s disabled. I... View More
answered on Mar 15, 2022
For your two daughters, specifying how much you would like to give each of them (90% to one, and 10% to the other in this case) is almost as simple as saying just that in a properly executed will. Wills can leave what are called "bequests" to different individuals, and you can specify... View More
All the bills are in his name only - I had not signed anything.
answered on Mar 11, 2022
Generally speaking, you are not responsible for the debts of another person, even if its your husband's medical bills as in this case. Since they are in his name only and you did not sign anything personally guaranteeing payment, you are not responsible for that debt.
However, your... View More
Then give that money to his mom to buy us a house. Now separated and she sold the house and we are goin through a divorce. Am I entitled to all the money back. Or do I need to split it with my ex husband. Do inheritance laws prevail or are they trumped once I deposited that money into his account
answered on Feb 11, 2022
That money has become marital property. It is now subject to an "equitable" distribution. This means a "fair" division, not necessarily an "equal" division. You should get lawyer to help you with this.
My dad wants to remove my son from deed and titles. He has had to get a protection order against him. My mom wanted him on the deed and titles. My mom has passed and my dad wants to cut him out of everything.
answered on Feb 11, 2022
Colorado recognized joint ownership of vehicles. Check with the rules for your county; try typing in the name of your county/state and "joint vehicle registration" for help. For example, our office is in Larimer County, which posts this information:... View More
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