Get free answers to your Estate Planning legal questions from lawyers in your area.
An untrustworthy family member wants to name our two teenaged children as beneficiaries of her assets, mostly a brokerage account, insurance plans, and company 401(K). We are not comfortable providing her with the children's Social Security numbers under any circumstances. I am hoping we can... View More
answered on Dec 8, 2023
Typically, naming someone as a beneficiary in a trust doesn't necessitate sharing their Social Security number (SSN). However, exceptions exist, and requirements can vary by state and financial institution. To sidestep providing children's SSNs, consider alternatives like obtaining a... View More
Jurisdiction of the revocable trust is Milford DE
answered on Oct 26, 2023
In the context of a revocable trust becoming irrevocable in Delaware, the need for your social security number and other information may depend on the trust's terms and the trustee's requirements. As the trust transitions, the trustee or executor may request beneficiary information,... View More
to fill out to removel of all trustees to appont me i am ther mom they hate us please help
answered on Oct 15, 2023
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. If you believe the trustee of your grandma's will is not fulfilling their fiduciary duties, you can petition the court to have them removed. To initiate this process, you'd typically file a petition to remove the trustee in the probate court or... View More
to fill out to removel of all trustees to appont me i am ther mom they hate us please help
answered on Oct 12, 2023
In a situation where a trustee is not performing their duties as outlined in the will, you may have grounds to petition for their removal and seek to replace them. The exact procedure varies by jurisdiction, but generally involves filing a petition in the probate court that explains why the trustee... View More
DE: spouse died, no will, adult children from 1st marriage, minor from our marriage. house in his name. must sell house to pay his bills. how do we calculate what my "lifetime rights" are worth?
answered on Mar 8, 2023
There are IRS Annuity LE/REM Valuation Tables in the Treasury Regulations, which are easy to apply. However I doubt you have a life estate but instead are an heir at law and thus a tenant in common with the other heirs. Check the title and DE intestate succession laws, or better, hire a... View More
I was told he has to physically live in the property until he passes away, and then the house goes to me (her daughter). Is he allowed to rent the house out to someone else? He originally signed his rights away to her estate but somehow now has the parcel in his name.
answered on Sep 8, 2023
Hire a DE attorney to search the title and determine ownership. It sounds like the husband is the surviving tenant by the entirety. If he made some type of disclaimer, then Mother's heirs need to enforce it in Court.
answered on Dec 1, 2021
I do not practice in Delaware, but everywhere that I do practice, yes, a vehicle with an outstanding loan is both an estate asset (as to the value of the vehicle) and an outstanding estate debt (as to the outstanding balance of the loan).
This type of asset generates all kinds of issues... View More
3 year relationship
answered on Apr 22, 2021
There is more than one way to accomplish this, and the choice depends on a lot of other factors that you have not mentioned. This is not a do-it-yourself project. You should contact an experienced estate planning attorney for assistance.
Is it proper ,in a Trust's checking account, in published checks, the trustee puts her name and address at least twice as large as the name of the Trust, and omits the sole beneficiary's name (which is part of the Trust legal name/title) and omits the E.I. N. number indicating this is a... View More
answered on Feb 8, 2021
As a beneficiary you are entitled to periodic accountings. You probably need to hire an attorney to help you enforce your rights. You are looking for a trust litigation attorney.
She is a beneficiary of the trust and the RMDs are to be used for her medical and living expenses each year. The executor does not want to distribute the RMD this year but she relies on it for her medical care. Does she have any recourse?
answered on Apr 8, 2020
It is not possible to answer your question without reviewing the trust instrument. The answer depends on the distribution standard in the trust, and distribution standards vary a great deal from trust to trust.
By the way, the administrator of a trustee is usually called the... View More
Over to my sister since I'm out of state. In the will we split evenly. Can I bill the estate for the 6 months I took care of mom
answered on Feb 6, 2020
The law generally presumes that caring for an elderly parent is done purely out of love and affection and not for compensation UNLESS there is an agreement to pay compensation, preferably in writing. Also, keep in mind that if you do manage to prove your claim against the estate for caregiver... View More
divided between us. I live in DE - she lives in GA where the lawyer is - there has been nothing posted in paper regarding death or collections? she is asking me to make her "sole executor" which i do not want to do. What are my options to resolve this issue & split the inheritance?
answered on Nov 12, 2019
She might want to be sole executor solely for convenience. Or she might want to keep the executor fee all for herself. Or, she might have more even more nefarious reasons. There is no way any attorney answering this question can know.
Your grandmother had reasons for naming both of... View More
He was almost $18K in child support arrears and his mom never knew about his annuity, so she never set up probate court. Instead she simply had him cremated. How do I place a lien against his annuity?
answered on Jan 17, 2018
If he owes back child support, and the annuity will pass through probate you can make a claim against the estate for the child support.
The process is complicated, and if your children are all minors their interest in the estate needs to be addressed, and FURTHER if there was a beneficiary... View More
State is Delaware. I was given lifetime right of occupancy via my grandmother's will. She left the house to her oldest son, my uncle, with the caveat that I had a lifetime right of occupancy. Now, I have discovered that the house has been sold. No one told me about this. Wondering if I have... View More
answered on Jan 12, 2018
I am assuming your grandmother has passed, because up until that point SHE can change the will and do something different, sell her house or otherwise do what you mention here without any issue.
If she has passed, was the will properly probated and the property transferred to you and your... View More
answered on May 29, 2017
It is unclear what exactly you are asking, but I'm going to say 'yes' because regardless of how you interpret this you can leave assets to children, grandchildren, children AND grandchildren, or to Children first and then to grandchildren should something happen to the children.... View More
had her make a new will without my knowledge. Is this legal?
answered on Jul 19, 2014
Unless your sister was mentally incompacitated at the time she signed her new Will, the fact that you have POA for her does not prevent your sister from signing a new Will.
answered on Jun 21, 2014
The claim would be filed against the Estate. It has to be filed within 8 months after the date of death.
answered on Mar 25, 2014
This answer assumes that the children are the children of both the decedent and the surviving spouse. Under Delaware law, the surviving spouse gets the first $50,000 of the personal estate, plus 50% of the balance of the personal estate. If the surviving spouse took title to the house with the... View More
Attourney will the take records depositionof the RECORDS CUSTODIAN OF THE STATE BUREAU OF IDENTIFICATION, on august 1, 2013
answered on Nov 12, 2013
This is the lawyer's way of informing you that he has subpoenaed certain records. A deposition will not be taken so long as the records are produced by the stated date.
answered on Jan 16, 2013
Contact the Regiser Of Wills for the County in which your mother lived. They have the forms, and you can schedule an appointment. They are very helpful.
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