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Kentucky Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: My dad died 12/06/23, he lived in Allen County, KY, and had no will.

Wife is deceased, has 3 children/heirs, my 2 brothers and I. His assets: $36,500 that he was about to inherit from his mother’s estate, and a 2016 Nissan Versa that needs transmission repairs in order to be drivable. My 2 brothers and I agree that I will be the administrator of his estate. Is it... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Sep 5, 2024

It appears you will not be able to dispense with administration because your dad’s estate is over $30,000, which is the maximum amount of assets that can be dispensed. Contact a local lawyer who can guide you through the process, which should not be terribly complicated given your description.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: I have a 2 year old niece I want to name as an heir.

I have a 2 year old niece, who I want to name as an heir. I do not want her parents, my brother and sister-in-law, to have access to the money. I want her to inherit it when she becomes an adult. How do I accomplish this?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 20, 2024

Your heirs are determined at your death, not while you are alive. For money a trust will be in order with a good Trustee running it until the Trust is executed and distributed to the grown Niece. If land is involved, hire a competent KY attorney to draft a future interest deed with the Niece... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Landlord - Tenant for Kentucky on
Q: What time of attorney should I seek?

I just found out that my brother and i co own a home (bc our mother died) with our aunts. My grandmother has been gone 9 years (mom almost 11 years). I rented her home from my aunt's for 3 years and 8 months without knowing I was a co owner. I paid roughly 25 000 in rent. Do I have a case? And... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Aug 11, 2024

A Kentucky attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. What kind of attorney? Maybe a starting point would be an attorney who deals with wills and estates (it looks like you're already pointed in the right direction with your selection of the "Estate... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law, Legal Malpractice and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: I am in Kentucky and need clarification on the wording of a deed. My father's attorney friend prepared the deed.

The same attorney also prepared my late mother's will, which bequeaths the property to me. He has betrayed my mothers trust by not telling her what the "survivorship clause" meant when he prepared her will. He is also the executor and using his lack of disclosure to assist my father... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on May 16, 2024

That is proper deed language in Kentucky. It means whomever is the survivor (mother or father) gets clear title to the real estate. What they may have thought or intended, however, is a completely different issue, which is why all real property transactions must be in writing as mandated by the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Collections and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: My father passed with unknown debts. my mother is still alive and living on the property. Can they take the property?

We arent sure what debts are out there. We got a notice from an Estate Information Serivce trying to reach someone about my father's estate. We havent contacted anyone. But i want to know if my mother and their home is safe.

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Mar 31, 2024

Depends on whose name the property is in. You need to run a credit report on dad and see what debts you can ascertain are owed. Until you determine exactly what debts are owed, the property is far from safe or secure.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: I never received my inheritance from a property sold it’s in the will for me to get half of sales what do I do? HELP!!

What steps do I take? How do I get my money? The property was sold but I haven’t received my half of inheritance. Can I do it for free? About how much does something like this cost to do? Do I have to prosecute the person to get my money?

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Mar 1, 2024

You will have to hire a KY attorney that does real property litigation. It will be an expensive and difficult suit for Ejectment, Quiet Title, etc. where you have to prove title. But if that Will was not filed for Probate, it means nothing. There are stringent SOLs involved, so either file... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate and Social Security for Kentucky on
Q: How do i navigate the death of my mother (was in process of writing a last will and test. but unable to finish)

Me, her daughter was POA in her living will but we hadnt been able to finish writing the last will and testament. I am to be the person to inherit her house and make sure it is available for her kids or grandkids to stay in if they should ever need a place We were talking about a dynasty trust or... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 22, 2023

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Navigating estate matters can be complex, especially in situations like yours where the last will and testament was not completed. As the person with power of attorney in her living will, you have a significant role, but it's important to... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: My father had a life insurance policy that I saw copies of having paid out to g.parent guardians. They kept it.

I was listed as only beneficiary but was 6. I lost the copies of correspondences and of the name of insurance co. I dont believe they thought I d ever know about it. I m now 40 and they have kept it. How do I proceed?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 13, 2023

To address the issue of a life insurance policy where you were the beneficiary but the funds were kept by your grandparents, you should start by gathering as much information as possible about the policy. If you don't remember the name of the insurance company, you might try to retrieve this... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: Regular last will & Testament or Living Revokable Trust Paper? Owns 2 houses, trailer, multiple vehicles with kids, and

Has several personal bank accounts. Tools, and other assets. Wants to leave them to ONLY 2-3 specific children out of numerous kids. Would you need a regular last will & Testament or Living Trust? Also wants someone to go to the bank for them bc they are bedridden so do I need a financial power... View More

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Jul 27, 2023

Your goals can be accomplished using just a trust or a combination of will and financial power of attorney. The choice depends somewhat on how motivated you are to avoid the hassle of probate for your intended beneficiaries by using a trust. Trusts also tend to invite less litigation. Will... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Tax Law for Kentucky on
Q: My mother sold an acre of her life estate that my sister will get. The check was in my sister's name. But my mom got it.

The tax preparer told my sister to have my mom report it on here taxes, but the 1099-s is my sister's name. Who reports it?

Vincent Gallo
Vincent Gallo
answered on Mar 12, 2023

If your mother was the owner of a life estate and she sold her interest in the life estate then the proceeds from the sale should have been earmarked for your mother only and the 1099-s should have consistently named your mother as well. Once your mother received the proceeds, unless there are... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: In Kentucky, will a house typically be sold to pay off debts?

My dad is a veteran who lived in KY with my adult brother and his autistic son. His house is in his name. He has almost no assets ( 14 year old car and paid off double wide trailer). He has a will and left trailer to myself and brother with contingency that my brother can continue living there.... View More

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Jan 3, 2023

Probate is probably a bad option with little assets and debt out there. You can check the Courts in the Father's County to see if there are any money judgements out there against him which might also be a lien. Consult a KY attorney for advice about the trailer title. Remember someone has... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Probate, Estate Planning and Landlord - Tenant for Kentucky on
Q: My mom died 2 yes agoand I lived with her took care of her till she passed and still living in the home my child hood

Home that's been in my family for over 30 years and I signed a waiver for probate hearing to appoint my brother as administrator of estate cause my mom dies without a will but my brother and my mom both was homeowners on the land house deed anyways my brother told me I could live here till I... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jan 1, 2023

Yes. Your brother can sell it and the new owner can have you removed. With no will, mothers estate will be divided among her children so you will have to either buy out their shares or sell your share and receive the money.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: Kentucky Last Will directs payout for life insurance, conflicts life insurance beneficiary listed.

A Kentucky attorney created a will that details life insurance payout and how the funds should be used (split into 4 and used for school tuition etc.) The life insurance company only has one beneficiary listed, who happens to be the executor of the estate. There is an open probate case currently,... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Nov 21, 2022

Life insurance passes outside probate unless the estate is the beneficiary. If the executor is the beneficiary, the proceeds should pass outside probate.

2 Answers | Asked in Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: After my husband's passing 10 years ago do I have to leave them anything in my will at my passing they never visit call

Or anything unless to start drama. They say I have to have my home sold and divided equally with them as he and I had 8 children we adopted plus 3 of ours together I have paid every payment tax and insurance on the house the last 10 years. Alone and still owe 8 more years on it

Nina Whitehurst
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answered on Nov 15, 2022

As a general rule, you do not have to leave anything to anybody in your will if you don't want to, unless you have entered into some kind of contract that says otherwise (some people do). But that is not the end of the inquiry. The question is whether you own the house 100% solely in your... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: My husband passed away 10 years ago I never went to probate court but now I need to to be able to transfer a old motorcy

Probate said I need to get all his biological children over 18 to sign off on it but his 3 older ones won't saying they would be signing their rights away to my house. But deed states that if either of us dies first house goes to surviving spouse. Do they have right to my house in my passing... View More

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Nov 13, 2022

They have no right to you house as it passed to you pursuant to the deed. Ask if you can do a dispense with administration. If not, you will have to file to open probate and get appointed administratrix in order to sell the bike. In any event, his adult children probably get nothing.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: We have lived with my mom for 16 years and took care of her. She passed away and now my brother says we need to get out

We need time to get a place to go. Is 6 months too long

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Nov 2, 2022

You’ll either have to reach an arrangement with the estate to stay in the house and rent/buy it or you’ll have to move out. Many factors can’t impact it, but 30-60 days is usually the time given to move if no agreement is reached.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Real Estate Law and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: Selling deceased mom's house. 4 siblings are going to divide what we get out of it. Do we have to pay taxes on it. In Ky

4 siblings, oldest has control over estate.

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Oct 27, 2022

Depends on the value of the house but most likely the answer is no tax due.

2 Answers | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Kentucky on
Q: My mother passed away 3 yrs.ago.She had mirror wills with my stepfather. My stepfather now wants to change his will.

Is it legal to chane the wills now,after her death?

Thank you in advance for your response

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Oct 24, 2022

He can always execute a new Will, but disappointed legatees/devisees might contest the Will when Probated. The argument is a mutual will under contract, but it is hard to prove and win on. It can also be hard to effectively revoke the existing document, if he does not have possession of it.

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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Kentucky on
Q: Can a lawyer sue you for firing him?

He was hired for probate by me the executor. He has done a terrible job. He charges an exorbitant amount already. He has even advised some things that are morally wrong and possibly illegal. I just want out of the contract.

Anthony M. Avery
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answered on Aug 16, 2024

Lawyers cannot sue their clients for firing them, but they can sue for monies already earned or owed.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Kentucky on
Q: What is a one percent deed?

My Eldercare attorney has told me I should do a one percent deed with my elderly father.

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Jun 18, 2024

Sounds like they are suggesting a life estate in the property be given up your father (which means he owns and remains in the property until he passes), with the remainder to you as her. Once your father passes, full ownership would vest in you.

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