You need a lawyer in the state where your mother resides (you list Charlotte, NC, in the posting). So long as your mother is mentally competent, then she can execute a new Will. However, a Will does not act as or grant someone the authority to act as someone's attorney-in-fact like a power... View More

Discuss this with a lawyer. One option: Wait 6 months after date of death before opening the estate, and do not talk to the credit card companies or volunteer that he died, just stop making payments and ignore their calls. After 6 months open the estate and if the credit card companies file claims... View More

Without seeing the trust agreement, I can only answer based on the facts you have provided. Usually the trust agreement will advise you as to how to resign as the trustee. If it's silent, then I suggest you talk to the sister about passing the torch and then following up your resignation in... View More

There isn't a form on the Register of Wills' website that would accomplish this. You should reach out to a local attorney to inquire about he/she assisting you with preparation of a proper disclaimer. It need not be anything fancy but it would be worth it to consult with an attorney about... View More

It surely sounds like your fiancé needs to talk to a lawyer who will review whatever documents her uncle has and the probate file. If she is the sole heir of an intestate estate, it is difficult to imagine why the $1.8M isn't in her hands after two years unless some conservatorship was... View More

Unfortunately, this is a matter of fact that must be determined by the court. You should contact an attorney in your area/county/city to determine whether there is a case for a presumption of death.

So, you are paying half value, which means the two minor heirs receive half their inheritance. Meanwhile, you get a house worth twice what you paid for it. The minor heirs lose half their inheritance. To you. I’m not seeing how this benefits them. Are they living in the house? Deed the house to... View More

Did he have a will? Has anyone opened an estate? That has to be done first. The person appointed personal representative of the estate will then have authority to find these things out, and access his papers, financial accounts, etc., for purposes of management until the estate may be distributed... View More

"QUIETING TITLE" means settling any dispute on the ownership of particular property. The condition of the property is usually irrelevant. Someone can only quiet title to property they either have a recorded interest in (meaning something like a deed recorded in the Land Records) OR... View More

It's sometimes difficult to know how to handle delicate estate situations. As a beneficiary of a trust, you have the right to review the trust itself and receive periodic accountings. I would start there and see what information you get. Hopefully, you will not need to involve the courts in... View More

Nina Whitehurst Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 6, 2020

It is hard to say how that $30,000 will be divided without knowing what ELSE was included in your dad's estate. In general, because your dad died without a will, his surviving spouse would receive $15,000 plus half of everything else in his estate. His children would receive the amounts not... View More

Well, if it was signed by your grandfather, in the presence of two witnesses, who also signed the will in their and his presence, then the signature requirements of the law are satisfied for making a valid will. Whether the document as a whole makes a valid will cannot be determined by the facts... View More

An estate will need to be opened. If a married couple owned the property as "tenants by the entirety" when the first one died, title should have gone to the survivor of them. (If they owned title differently there may be a need for two estates).

In many cases an estate will... View More

No. Property which one spouse inherits alone is not marital property subject to division with the non-inheriting spouse. The only scenarios where your cousin’s spouse could make a claim are (1) if your cousin were to add his wife to the title; or (2) if your cousin were to make mortgage payments... View More

Are your parents alive? An executor/PR has no authority to act until the person whose will appoints them has died, and an estate is opened. Once that happens, if the named PR is or becomes incompetent, then whomever the will names as successor or alternate PR takes over. If there is no successor... View More

If the estate is in probate court, contact the Court in writing and explain the situation.

If the sum total of the Estate is only $90,000, then you are well under state and federal thresholds for estate tax. There are several other fees you may have to handle - probate fees, capital gains, income tax, all depending on the nature of the assets in the estate. Please consult a qualified... View More

No. As spouse of the decedent, you are not subject to the Maryland inheritance tax. You only list assets that the decedent jointly owned with a person or persons who would be subject to inheritance tax. The one exception on the form is for listing real property located outside the state of... View More

Nina Whitehurst Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on May 25, 2020

That is neither common nor uncommon. It is something that the drafting attorney usually discusses with the principal/client before inserting it into the POA. There are good reasons for inserting such provisions in certain cases.

It would be unethical for the drafting attorney to exercise... View More

The Personal Representative will usually need to wait until the time period for creditor claims passes before distributing the estate. This does not necessarily mean waiting until the estate closes - in some situations a PR will file an interim account and make a distribution before the estate... View More