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Kansas Estate Planning Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Real Estate Law and Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: If there is a lien on a house, can we keep adding joint tenants, generation after generation to pass on the home?

I understand that a joint tenancy postpones the selling of a home to satisfy a lien. If I am a joint tenant on my mom's home, then she dies, the home passes on to me, the house cannot be taken and sold to satisfy the lien. Then I add my son on as a joint tenant and when I die, also, the house... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Dec 27, 2018

It is not unusual for a mortgage and/or a promissory note to have a provision that accelerates the debt obligation upon the transfer of an interest in the property to another person. To answer your question, you would want to know the specifics of the promissory note and mortgage in question. As... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Probate and Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: My Mother in law passed away

My mother in laws name is on the deed to the house. She passed away. She left the house to her kids in her will. Her husband is still alive who is a step dad. The will has not been filed with the court yet. The will states the husband can live in the house until his death. Does the will... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Dec 27, 2018

If there is a will, it should be filed with the court within six months of the date of death. Notice will be provided to persons with a potential interest in the estate and a hearing date will be set. If no one opposes the probate of the will, it will be probated as a valid will and an executor (or... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Kansas on
Q: How do I find out if my brother and I are named beneficiaries in our grandmas estate if my uncle won’t produce a will?

In May my dad passed away then two weeks later my grandmother, his mother, passed as well. My grandmother had a very large estate and she of course planned ahead and had a will. She legally had 3 children my dad, my uncle and a adopted daughter. The problem is that since my dad passed first... View More

Michael Hales
Michael Hales
answered on Sep 25, 2018

I recommend retaining an attorney to communicate with your uncle if he continues to ignore your requests.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: My wife and her sister recently inherited a property/house in Tallahassee, Florida from their father at his passing.

He leased the house for a 5 year period that runs thru 1/2020. The lease is signed by my father-in-law and the man and wife who are the lessors. Their are cancellation provisions for the lessors but not the owner except for cause. There is no transfer of ownership clause in the lease. Is the lease... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on May 7, 2018

The law that would apply to the lease of a Florida property would be Florida law. You need to seek legal advice from an attorney licensed in Florida.

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Probate for Kansas on
Q: Husband died 6 years ago, Will filed, no probate, everything was joint. Now, found a stock certificate, in his name only

How do I get the stock into my name?

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Apr 24, 2018

There is a process that allows for use of an affidavit for the heirs at law or beneficiaries of a will to transfer the assets directly to them if the value of the estate is under a certain amount. K.S.A. 59-1507b provides that if the total assets of the decedent subject to probate do not exceed... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: What happens with a trust when all the trustees are deceased?
Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Apr 23, 2018

Sometimes a trust document provides a process for the identification or appointment of successor trustees who are not called out in the trust document. Alternatively, a court proceeding may be initiated by someone having an interest in the estate to ask the court to make determinations in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Foreclosure for Kansas on
Q: Does my brother have to surrender the house he has lived in for the last 8 years taking care of his mother in home

he has been the sole caretaker and this has been his home. If he must surrender this, he will be homeless. His name was placed on the deed 20 years ago

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Mar 7, 2018

Your brother should consult with an attorney regarding the Medicaid eligibility issues that may relate to the situation. A home of a Medicaid recipient may be transferred to an adult child who has lived with the Medicaid applicant for the two years prior to going into the nursing home and the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law and Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: Mother wants to sell a cell tower??

My mother has rights to land that her deceased spouse gave her upon his death. On one piece of land, there is a cell tower that she wants to sell. To complicate matters, the land that the cell tower is on has been willed by her deceased spouse to his nephew when my mother dies. Can she sell the... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Mar 2, 2018

If a person owns a life estate in a piece of real property, that person would not have the power to sell the real estate outright without the person with the remainder interest participating as a seller in the sale. The tower may be a fixture that, once affixed to the property, becomes a part of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: I am executor of estate from years ago and had found some money the previous trustee did not find have not distributed

now afraid of getting in trouble, and do not live there anymore, it is in the state of kansas.I also have a house that one of my sisters lives in and pays taxes on after the other sister almost lost it and the lawyers were going to sell it for nothing. I have 2 sisters one is not very nice and... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Feb 23, 2018

If there is a need to reopen the estate to empower an executor or administrator, that may be done. An attorney who would work with you in addressing this new development would want to be sure about the nature of the asset, what proceedings would be needed, and minimizing the cost of a new procedure... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: My mother passed away recently. She did not have a will. She lived with her boyfriend of 20-plus years. I'm her only hei

Since they were not married am I legally the soul reciprocant of her estate? I am her only heir

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Feb 12, 2018

A single person who passes away with one child would have a single heir, the child. Kansas does recognize common law marriage. So two single people may hold themselves out to be married and by virtue of their affirmative effort to be a married couple, may become married. Common law marriage has... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: My friend informed me that he wants me to inherit his estate and wants me to draw up the documents to do so.

Is this legal to do so?

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Feb 12, 2018

Your friend would need some independent legal advice. Kansas law provides that: "Any provision in a will, written or prepared for another person, that gives the writer or preparer or the writer's or preparer's parent, children, issue, sibling or spouse any devise or bequest is... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: My sister passed away with no will. Her condo is going back to the bank. She has no assets but the condo and her car.

I do not want to be involved, will the bank file for probate or someone else. She has medical bills, and who files her taxes for her. Thanks.

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Jan 9, 2018

A creditor such as a bank may file a petition to probate an estate. In absence of a family member who is an heir at law stepping forward to ask for the appointment of an administrator, the court would likely appoint a fiduciary suggested by the creditors as administrator. The administrator would... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: Can a house or car from an estate be used if it hasn't been settled with the beneficiaries yet
Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Sep 25, 2017

After a fiduciary (executor if there is a will or administrator if there is no will) has been appointed to handle the estate, the fiduciary will need to safeguard the assets while the estate is being administered. Some assets may be sold, and others may be held for eventual distribution. With a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: If property is deeded in my husband's name, will that ownership pass to me upon his death?

My husband inherited this lake property along with four of his siblings. All of their names are also on the deed.

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Sep 5, 2017

There are two parts to the question. The first being the nature of the interest that was transferred to your husband. If your husband holds his interest as a tenant in common, then his interest in the property would pass subject to his will if one exists, or the laws of intestacy, subject to your... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Probate for Kansas on
Q: My 4 children's father recently passed away. His current wife says their is no will but he showed it to me beforehand.

She is now selling the house and getting rid of possessions I

Feel my kids have rights to. What do I do and how do I find out where the will is.

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Sep 5, 2017

If you or your children know who the attorney was that drafted the will, you could reach out to that attorney and ask for the original or a copy. If the original is not found, one of your children could ask the court to probate the lost will, if its contents are known. There is a presumption that a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law, Estate Planning and Real Estate Law for Kansas on
Q: If my parents deed a house to me, I cash out refinance to pay them, do we pay gift taxes or they pay Cap. Gains Tax?

So my parents paid cash for a house for me. Instead of doing a traditional loan, if they were to deed the house to me and I cash out refinance to give them the money they wanted for the house and I can use the rest of the cash for improvements or paying off debts.

would they pay gift tax... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Sep 1, 2017

If your parents transfer the house to you, you take out a loan and pay to them a part of the fair market value of the property, the difference between the fair market value and your payment is a "gift." Your parents' gift does not create a taxable event for you. Your parents may have... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law and Elder Law for Kansas on
Q: I need help on how to get my mother'ss property.

My stepsister was my mothers power of attorney when she was alive. she passed away on May 2nd. I have asked for a will several times, she doesn't respond. My mother didn't adopt her, and my mother has been divorced from her father for over 20 years. no probate has been filed. what do... View More

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Sep 1, 2017

You describe a situation in which you believe "fraud" may have occurred and that possibly a person who acted in a fiduciary capacity may have taken advantage of your mother who was in a diminished capacity. As an heir at law of your mother, you have an interest in her estate and may file... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Family Law for Kansas on
Q: Why would a sibling file a determination of descent petition as a plaintiff in a family farm vs. her brothers?

I want to find out if she is sealing her inheritance or questioning the sale of the farm.

Scott C. Stockwell
Scott C. Stockwell
answered on Aug 4, 2017

A determination of descent is a proceeding in probate court to determine the heirs of law of a person who has passed away and to enter an order transferring the assets of the estate to those heirs at law in accordance with the laws of intestacy. If there had been a will, it should have been filed... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning and Elder Law for Kansas on
Q: Can my mother's grandson be her attorney on her will?

He set up his mother, my sister, as the power of attorney and I'm not sure what it covers other than her medical, yet she manages her finances, as well. There may be future issues regarding the will so I'm concerned that this representation will be biased.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Aug 1, 2017

It is not an 'inherent' conflict of interest for a lawyer to represent a blood relative. But what you ask depends on facts you don't provide -- what will the will say?

For example, I drafted my parents will which provided that as a secondary beneficiary (after them) I...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Kansas on
Q: Is there a limit on the number of alternate executors you can name in your will in Kansas?
Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
answered on Jun 29, 2017

Legally no. Practically, yes. Do you REALLY want to make such a complicated will? PLEASE seek the advice of a qualified local estate planning attorney.

Wills -- and especially naming a fiduciary -- are complicated! Don't fall into a trap of trying to save a few pennies with a DIY will...
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