The estate I represent is winning a wrongful death award. My sister passed in an accident. Can the award be divided by the judge to benefit 3 people, (my mother, other sister and I) ? The interest of this would be that the award would not be taxable for anyone.
Thank you,
Claudia
answered on Mar 25, 2023
Claudia,
In general, awards for wrongful death are not taxable. However, if a portion is meant to compensate for pain and suffering or lost wages it can be taxable.
Probate the will to move forward? Lawsuit is over $350K
I had a medical malpractice settlement money when i was a minor. My mother didn't tell me about my settlement money until i found out by a family member at 30-year-old. From what i understand is that my mother created a trust bank account when i was a minor and she is a trustee of that... Read more »
answered on Mar 22, 2023
If you had a medical malpractice lawsuit as a minor, the Court would have had to approve any settlement and would have issued an Infant Compromise Order. The Infant Compromise Order would have directed the settlement proceeds to be deposited in a bank account held jointly by an officer of the bank... Read more »
The beneficiary has been bilked by online scammers more than once for upwards of $30,000.
answered on Mar 17, 2023
No. However, if the person is willing to cooperate, they can put the money in a trust that is scammer proof. If they are not cooperative, they are an adult, and you cannot control them over the wishes of the decedent.
The third has verbally agreed but has not signed letter naming the successor trustee.
answered on Mar 16, 2023
There are forms for all of this. Not an unusual situation. If someone is not willing to sign the form, a citation must be issued upon a petition.
You and your siblings must appear for the signing of the sales deed, either in person or by virtue of a power of attorney, to subscribe the sale. For each of you who resides outside Puerto Rico, our Tax Code requires that a 15% retention be made at the point of origin (which would be upon the... Read more »
answered on Mar 13, 2023
That is a requirement of the tax law in that location. https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/industry/download/588201-discover-puerto-rico-form-480-2017.pdf
He says he needs “formal notice” - ME won’t release body without proof I’m executor (ie, the Will) so I cannot get a death cert or anything. I’m stuck as I need the Will to get the death cert, make arrangements, get access to apt., etc.. Can the lawyer be made to release the Will to me??... Read more »
answered on Mar 10, 2023
It is weird. But, the workaround is to file for limited preliminary letters of administration, with a request for relief to get the other documents. Or, the lawyer can just file the will with the court directly, and you can get a copy.
He says he needs “formal notice” - ME won’t release body without proof I’m executor (ie, the Will) so I cannot get a death cert or anything. I’m stuck as I need the Will to get the death cert, make arrangements, get access to apt., etc.. Can the lawyer be made to release the Will to me??... Read more »
answered on Mar 10, 2023
Surrogate Court Procedure Act (SCPA) Sec. 1401 authorizes a proceeding to compel anyone who has custody of the original Will to produce it. If you are a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of the deceased, you are eligible to receive a copy of the death certificate if one has been issued. You would... Read more »
in NY
answered on Mar 9, 2023
If you wish to challenge a decision or order, you may move to reargue and also appeal. Moving to reargue does not preclude an appeal.
in NY
answered on Mar 9, 2023
The fact that you lost the motion to reargue will not prevent you fr om following through with your appeal so long as you filed a timely notice of appeal from the Order. If you did not do that, it will be too late to do so. You cannot appeal from an order which denied reargument unless the order,... Read more »
answered on Feb 24, 2023
No. A Power of Attorney is only effective during the lifetime of the person signing (the principal). Once that person dies, it is no longer in effect. Upon being appointed, an Executor has full power to collect the decedent's assets and administer the estate.
The bank said only the executor of the estate can get it. Aren’t beneficiary accounts outside the realm of the estate and the executor? My sister lived in Arizona when she passed. I live in NY. The bank account is in South Carolina (where she used to live) The executor of the estate, a friend in... Read more »
answered on Feb 24, 2023
Questions about Estate matters are controlled by the law of the State where the decedent resided at the time of death. Therefore, although you may live in New York, your question is better directed to attorneys practicing in the State of your late sister's residence.
Under disability w/ad litem appointed, can I petition to be heard by judge, conference, or written statement, if my disability is minor (ADD) and I disagree with ad litem's actions and coercive requests for waiver liability. Spendthrift trust, cash poor,no homeowners insurance(!?!#), failure... Read more »
answered on Feb 17, 2023
Can you petition Surrogate's Court to terminate your guardianship? Yes. Under New York's Mental Hygiene Law § 81.35, the incapacitated person can commence a proceeding to remove his or her guardian. Will you be successful on your own? Unlikely. You'd be better off retaining... Read more »
Our parents owned our family house in Lynbrook, NY since 1962. My mother died in 1974. Dad married Clare soon after and in 1996 added C to the deed. He passed away in 2004. C removed his name from the deed. I have copies of the deed and subsequent alterations. Neither our father nor mother had a... Read more »
answered on Feb 16, 2023
If Clare was added to Deed as a joint tenant, she was entitled to 100% when your dad passed away. If she is listed as a tenant in common with your dad, you may be entitled to something.
I also have to change the electric and water to her name and was told I needed an Affidavit.
answered on Feb 7, 2023
A little more complicated. Assuming the house was held by your grandparents as husband and wife, you need to make an estate for the second to die, and then have your mother be conveyed the house as next of kin. If she has siblings, they need to sign off.
A will in NY state gives the homestead to one heir and the contents to another. During the probate process, who is legally responsible for paying bills associated with the property?
answered on Jan 28, 2023
The expenses of the estate are paid from Estate assets. The expenses associated with the property before it is transferred to the beneficiary are generally the Estate's responsiblity and not those of an individual beneficiary. The language of the Will may provide more guidance.
The estate will be in excess of $5 million.There's real estate, businesses, insurance, etc. We'd like the kids' input, and they are willing. We dread any infighting after we're gone. Recently family members have gone through torture. Any thoughts on how to best proceed? Thanks in advance.
answered on Jan 25, 2023
No. Consult with the attorney first and get an overview of what is available to you.
Jack
My elderly mother sold her house in 2019 to move a few miles so she'd be closer to my sister. My brother in law (a CPA) put the proceeds from the sale (>$100K) in a bank account in my nephew's name to hide the $ from the govt in case Mom went into a nursing home. He then bought a house... Read more »
answered on Jan 4, 2023
In the absence of some agreement regarding the proceeds of the sale of your mother's house, I generally agree with attorney Siegel. Based upon the fact pattern you described, your brother's house is your brother's house and your mother having lived there does not make it hers nor... Read more »
His daughter has already taking things from his house and said because they didn't talk for 5 years or more she said she is taking all his things to sell or bring to Florida. This includes his motorcycle he was leaving for his grandson. How do I stop this from happening
answered on Jan 3, 2023
That is a real bummer, but when someone dies without a will, then state law determines who inherits. If your friend died unmarried but with one or more living children, typically the children inherit. Even though the daughter might not be strictly following the proper legal process, chances are... Read more »
Are married. One sister dies in NY with no will. What happens to her share of the estate(25%) she had 3 kids and husband when she died. Thank you for your help
answered on Dec 19, 2022
Sister’s share becomes part of her estate. If she died without a Will, after certain property is exempted, the first $50,000 goes to the spouse and the rest gets split 50% to spouse and 50% to be split evenly by the children.
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